The severe drought in Andalusia increases the planting of melons and vegetables in the Valencian Community

2023-04-21 09:44:14

he absence of rain in a good part of the Andalusian territory is setting off all the alarms in the primary sector, much more than in the Valencian Community, where the area of ​​irrigated crops is greater and the water reserves, at least for the moment, as well. According to a report from Asajaoutdoor producers of Almería have already given up planting 2,500 hectares of watermelons due to lack of water that guarantees its irrigation, a situation that is being taken advantage of by Valencian farmers, who in recent weeks are increasing the planting of this typical summer fruit, as well as melonsin regions like the riverbank, the Horta y Undergraduateassure this newspaper sources of AVA-Assaja and the Plowing Union.

Beyond the serious impact of the lack of water on rainfed crops (olivares, almond trees y vineyards) and in pastures for livestock, the impact of the drought on crops in some territories in the south of Spain it is just one of the consequences of the water deficit “which can have serious consequences for Mediterranean agriculture”, explains the general secretary of the Union of Farmers, Carles Peris. With a Xúquer basin at 62% of its capacity, Valencian farmers do not see the situation as complicated as those dependent on Segura, whose reservoirs have fallen to 36% of their volume and will have cuts in the transfer of water from the Tagus. This aggravates the situation of producers in the southern regions of Alicante.

On the other hand, AVA-Assaja notes important cost overruns in energy and labor to carry out cultivation work. “In citrus, persimmonssummer fruits (nectarines, peaches, apricots y medlars, among others) and vegetablesfarmers have not stopped watering their orchards and see that their energy bills are three or four times more expensive than a year ago due to the increase in the price of electricity and the establishment of the ‘gas cap’ by the Government”, warns the organization led by Christopher Aguado.

In the Valencian Community There are more water reserves in the reservoirs compared to other Spanish regions that guarantee water for this campaign. However, AVA-Asaja recognizes that the lack of rain in recent months is already having very negative effects on Valencian agriculture and livestock.

Citrus flowering and size

In the specific case of the citrus there is an increase in the frequency of irrigation of the fields during this very dry spring, which raises the operating costs. “Energy bills skyrocket and are up to three times more expensive than a year ago,” he laments peris. The blooming orange and mandarin trees It’s been good this month, a key period also for fruit set, so a higher production is expected compared to last season, heavily affected by heavy rains. “The problem is that if it doesn’t rain soon there will be a possible reduction in calibers“, emphasizes the general secretary of the Union.

In similar terms, sources of AVA-Assaja They maintain that the citrus fruits come from a season of lower production and flowering has been very good, although they regret the “great uncertainty facing the 2023/2024 campaign due to this prolonged dry period.” In addition, they warn that the aquifers are getting lower, which puts the situation at risk for some irrigation communities.

Impact on vegetables

Uncertainty is also growing among the producers of some vegetables such as tomatoes, potatoes or onions from the Valencian Community. “In principle they are irrigated areas and there is no risk, although they are also looking at the sky because water resources may run out,” say the agrarian organizations. In addition, high temperatures take their toll on the artichokes, whose campaign will end shortly and has reduced harvesting and size since last March. Since then the thermometer registers upward records.

Cabbage field in a field of l’Horta Nord. GERMAN CABALLERO

Cereals and nuts

In dry land, the cereals As the wheat and the barley they register serious crop losses, to the point that in many plots the vegetative cycle has already ended and not a single grain will be harvested even if it starts to rain from now on. It also highlights the evolution of the vineyard, which has made a “cry” of the sap less than usual, which could lead to a decrease in production for the next harvest. In the case of almondIn addition to a fruit drop due to water stress, there is fear in some inland areas that the trees will end up dying. Finally, the oliveswhich had already suffered from last year’s climatic adversities, are at risk of suffering further reductions in the harvest.

The organizations of the Union of Unions, who met yesterday with the Ministry of Agriculture after the Drought Table held last Wednesday, lament the lack of proposals to alleviate the effects of the drought, given a very serious situationcon production losses of the order of 4,000 million euros throughout Spain compared to the average of the last five years and, without counting olive grove, vineyards y other cropsfor which it is still early to make estimates.

The cooperatives claim not to pay the personal income tax of the workers

Gabriel Braidedgeneral manager, Mónica Sanz, president of the Insurance Group, and Jesus Gustran, an insurance technician from Cooperativas Agro-alimentarias de España, assure that “higher prices do not imply greater profitability, and the drought we are suffering will cause a reduction in supply, in some productions it is estimated to be around 50%, and an increase in the cost of food, affecting the profitability of farms, because with the same costs there will be less production”. This entity, which brings together 374 cooperatives, with 193,948 members, 19,762 workers and just over 2,000 million euros in turnover in the Valencian Community, considers that the Government must apply a series of fiscal and labor measures. In this sense, it has requested the exemption of fees and rates related to the availability of water for the owners of farms, the IBI of a rustic nature, as well as reductions in personal income tax and special tax benefits for agricultural activities. In labor matters, a cancellation of the payment of social security contributions has been requested during 2023 for those affected by the drought, while in terms of financing, the implementation of liquidity loans subsidized up to 100%. Cooperativas Agro-alimentarias de España has also informed the Government that temporary measures such as the aid of 20 cents for diesel for agricultural use and that for fertilizers must be extended.