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ARCHIVED - Devastating recent storms leave Alicante farmers 22 million euros out of pocket
Rain and snow has wiped out 80% of the almond and cherry harvests in Alicante province
The polar air which dumped snow and heavy rain on much of Alicante province over the last few weeks has destroyed more than three quarters of almond and cherry crops leaving Alicante farmers tens of millions of euros out of pocket.
Agricultural cooperative Asaja Alicante has estimated that the atypical weather conditions at the beginning of spring will lead to whopping losses of up to 22 million euros.
In addition to wiping out 80% of almond and cherry harvests, the Celia squall has compromised 50% of stone fruit production in the province, and temperatures as low as -4ºC have put an end to expectations of "a good year" for thousands of farmers in the Alto Vinalopó, El Comtat, Alcoy and inland Marina Alta areas of Alicante.
In the case of cherry production, more than 1,700 hectares of land in these areas typically produce around 5,650 tonnes of the fruit, but there are "many plots" where 100% of the crops have been completely destroyed.
Initial estimates put the average damage at around 70% of cherry harvest, which will mean losses of around 4,000 tonnes.
"With an average field price of 1.8 euros per kilo of cherry, the mass of cold air could well have caused losses of 7.2 million euros", according to Asaja.
With regards to the province's 9,000 hectares of almond trees, around 80% have been affected by the cold snap, equating to about 5,6000 tonnes with a field price of 2.10 euros per kilo. This assumes losses of 11.7 million euros.
In terms of apricot and peach harvests, 50% of the 415 hectares have taken the brunt of the storms, which will lead to losses of an estimated 3,150 tonnes; around 2.5 million euros.
Plums, on the other hand, appear to be the least affected crop. The cultivation area in the province is 270 hectares which produces around 5,000 tonnes.
Almost a third of the crops are estimated to have been damaged meaning losses of 1,500 tonnes of the fruit; 750,000 euros in monetary terms.
It remains to be seen what sort of impact the storms have had on olive grove production, but repeated episodes of rain have produced an excess of humidity which is causing olive trees to defoliate; a serious problem given the proximity of flowering.
Up to now, the Vega Baja area of Alicante province seems to have been spared the devastating effects of the squall, partly due to its coastal position which "has protected the citrus, fruit, almond and vegetable crops from a frost that has severely compromised all agricultural production in the interior of the peninsular and continental Europe", according to the agricultural experts.
"The irrigated lands of the Vega Baja are the safest area for food production, but the polar cold snap has wiped out all the fruit and almonds from Andalusia to the Alps," added Asaja, pointing out that: "Europe's market garden is a guarantee of food security for the continent, something can all see except the Spanish Government and Minister Ribera, who are determined to break the Tagus-Segura water transfer by increasing the ecological flows and cut off agriculture in this area forever".
Farmers in Alicante are now calling for a tractor protest on May 10 "to fight for the survival of the countryside".
Image: Asaja Alicante
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