Papaya producers and traders agree that the demand and the price of the fruit have been falling since April 18 when the protests against the social security reforms imposed by the government began.
Iván Rayo, one of the main suppliers of papaya in the Oriental market and Managua Wholesale, said that after the fall in demand, the price of fruit has dropped by 44%. Together with the other producers and traders, he hopes that the situation returns to normal through dialogue.
“Before April 18, a dozen papayas were sold in the El Mayoreo and Oriental markets up to C$ 600 (USD 19) and now they are priced between C$ 400 (USD 13) and C$300 (USD 10), depending on size,” he said.
He said that he delivered 600 dozen papayas to the capital on a weekly basis and that merchants from the north, center and west of the country also supply these stalls.
“The fall in sales is notorious. For now we are delivering 400 dozens, and among all Rivas suppliers, we distributed between 3,000 and 3,500 dozen papayas weekly in Managua, but orders have fallen by up to 55%, “Rayo explained.
Edelma Brenes Arriola, a Rivas merchant who has been in charge of supplying the markets in the capital for 15 years, confirmed that part of the fruit is lost while waiting for customers.
He said that like other papaya suppliers, now he is going to deliver fruits to Managua once a week and that he no longer needs to make another trip like he did before.
“I made two trips a week and delivered 250 dozens and I currently sell 140 and this affects the economy of those who dedicate ourselves to this activity, and we also lose the fruits that are reborn while waiting for customers,” said Brenes.
Producer Óscar Sánchez, from the community of El Rosario in the municipality of Rivas, said that in the papaya plantations the fall in the demand for this fruit has suffered and that he is one of those who has decided to add value to their crops. to look for new markets and minimize losses in difficult situations that arise in the country.
He said that the drop in sales began on April 19 and that they have also been forced to lower prices.
“In this situation I had to innovate my market strategies, because we made two cuts a week and now we only do one and the cuts fell from 180 dozens to 100 and to avoid losses we have new marketing spaces even with a supermarket chain “He explained.
Depending on the size, the landowners sell a dozen papaya, between C $ 150 and C $ 240, and assure that the main production areas are currently in the community of El Rosario, Chacapala in the municipality of Belén and rural areas of Potosí.
Written by: Lésber Quintero, El Nuevo Diario