“Citrus paradise” losing momentum: orange and mandarin harvest in Northern Cyprus has fallen to 100,000 tonnes

The citrus harvest in Northern Cyprus continues to decline and, according to producers’ estimates, will barely reach 100,000 tonnes this season. This was stated by the chairman of the Citrus Producers Association, Turgut Akçın, who called on the authorities to take urgent measures to support the sector.

According to him, after 1974 the total citrus output reached up to 260,000 tonnes, remained for many years at around 130,000 tonnes, and has now effectively fallen by more than half. The reasons include climate change, water shortages and soaring costs, due to which some orchards are simply abandoned without irrigation and care.

Early varieties are already entering the domestic market — lemon, clementines and Washington oranges. As before, the main volumes are provided by king mandarins (Mandora) and Valencia oranges, the harvest of which will begin in late January–February. Akçın expects that in the new season the king mandarin harvest may reach around 50,000 tonnes and Valencia 45–50,000 tonnes, but overall the annual trend remains negative: every year some orchards are lost due to water shortages and costs.

He also pointed out the failure in lemons: over the past 15–20 years, a significant part of lemon orchards was cut down in favor of the then more profitable Mandora, and the state did not stop this process. Now the Mandora market has cooled, lemon supply has declined, and it is impossible to replenish it quickly.

At the same time, Valencia remains a key export product: it is used to produce a high-quality concentrate valued not only in Northern Cyprus but also in foreign markets. According to Akçın, Cypriot concentrate is often blended with less aromatic raw materials from other countries to improve taste and color.

Customs restrictions also remain a serious barrier: direct supplies to the EU from the northern part of Cyprus are subject to an 18% duty, so the main exports go to Turkey and the Middle East. Producers insist that without a systematic policy on water, cost reduction and export support, the island’s “citrus brand” will continue to lose ground.