Crops damaged by big freeze - millions lost
Farmers union reveals that the almond crop has been worst hit
WHILE many farmers have reaped the benefit of recent inclement weather with the rain irrigating their crops, others were hit by the cold snap which brought snow and freezing temperatures to inland areas of Alicante province last week.
The provincial farmers’ union ASAJA has estimated that the damage caused by frosts will cost its members €22 million.
Union spokesman Antonio Gascón noted that the ‘wave of polar air’ had ruined 80% of the almond crop and damaged 50% of fruits with stones such as peaches and apricots, which increased to 70% for cherries. He stated that temperatures had dropped as low as -4°C in the interior of the Marina Alta,
El Comtat, Alto Vinalopó and areas around Alcoy.
Sr Gascón lamented that just one night of freezing temperatures had a devastating effect on the crops of fruits and nuts.
He added: “Very sadly many farmers do not have insurance policies to cover their losses.”
While cherry farmers could lose around €7.2 million, almond producers will take the greatest hit with losses reaching around €12 million, he noted.
Sr Gascón said plum trees were the least affected, with around 30% of the crop damaged.
He added that they are waiting to see how the very wet weather in March will affect the olive harvest later in the year.
The rain has led to an ‘excessive level of humidity in the soil’, which is causing defoliation in the trees.
Time will tell whether this affects the flowering of the trees in the coming months, he added.
Vega Baja
However, every cloud has a silver lining – as was seen in the Vega Baja area in the south of Alicante province, where the temperature did not drop below 5°C, according to Sr Gascón.
“Its position close to the coast protected the crops which were damaged in other areas of Spain and Europe,” he said.
ASAJA president José Vicente Andreu added: “The cold snap destroyed crops from Andalucía to the Alps, including the Mediterranean coast of France.”
However, the fields of the Vega Baja escaped and remain ‘the safest area for food production’, he stated.
They have also had a good watering from the recent rains.
Snow seen from the air
Following the April snow last week, the provincial mountain flying school, the ‘Escuela de Pilotos La Montaña’ headed out to take aerial photos.
Their plane swooped over the Guadalest Valley and beyond, taking pictures of the Sierras of Serrella and Mariola. More information can be found about their activities at www.escueladepi lotosulm.com