Spain: The bad weather is the last straw Andalusia

The storm has been the last straw for the Andalusian countryside, where they are already experiencing one of the worst crisis ever, with a fall in agricultural production in the last year of 7.1% and income the of farmers fell by 3.3%.

The Board President, José Antonio Griñán, admitted yesterday that damage to agriculture exceed 1000 million (Asaja organizations elevate the losses to 1200 million) as a result of crop losses in winter crops and the heavy damage to infrastructure and agricultural roads.

According to a report produced by the Ministry of Agriculture, the main products affected by the storm were olives, citrus, vegetables, strawberry, raspberry and cereals. In the olive groves there has been damage to about 40,000 hectares, mostly in the province of Jaén, with a decline in production between 25% and 30%  of olives and because of the frost. In citrus, the main problem was the flooding of orchards, wind and fruit dropping. The damaged area is about 7810 hectares, and the drop in production is between 40% and 50%.
 

In the vegetable crops grown outdoors, the effect of frost was compounded by the persistent rain in some districts. In protected horticulture, humidity and alternating temperatures led to pests and diseases, lack of fruit set, and cracked some fruits, mainly winter tomatoes. As for the strawberries and raspberries, the first frosts caused damage, which affected mostly the raspberries, which have increased sensitivity to cold temperatures.

For cereals, the estimated area affected between is between 2% and 3% in the provinces of Cadiz, Seville and Córdoba. The Counsellor of Agriculture, Clara Aguilera, lamented yesterday that the storm is causing significant damage to tree crops such as olives and oranges, which require more time for cultivation. « One can re-plant corn in spring but a tree takes more time and therefore the impact on these crops may be higher, » said Aguilera, who today meets with the agricultural sector in Andújar (Jaén).
 

There has also been extensive damage to rural road networks. According to the Agriculture Department, there has been an area in varying degrees of about 2274 kilometres that has been affected, representing 4.5% of the total road network. The disappearance of some sections, especially in areas near waterways; rupturing of pipes; the erosion of roads and limited access are the main problems.

Feragua, the Federation of Irrigation, has estimated damage to be at 200 million Euros in water infrastructure which has affected pumping stations, manholes, canals, ditches, roads and drains. This is putting the beginning of the irrigation season at risk which begins next May. Thus, they call for an emergency help line and at least 50 million, and fiscal support measures for farmers affected.

The department of Agriculture yesterday again encouraged farmers to insure their crops against bad weather. The average value of insurance ranges from 80% for cereal, 40% in citrus or 11% on Onubense strawberries and raspberries. COAG has requested that the entire valley of the Guadalquivir be declared a disaster area.

Source Fresh Plaza