The bad weather that has hit the Algarve in recent weeks has caused an estimated drop of around 30% in citrus fruit production, and “some damage” to agricultural farms.
“The agricultural sector in the western part of the country ended up being the most affected, with losses at the level of facilities,” said Diana Ferreira, vice-president of the Algarve Agriculture Federation (Fedagri).
According to the representative of the Algarve Citrus Operators Association (AlgarOrange), the weather conditions had “an impact on the orchards, with an estimated 30% of production being affected”.
However, he explained, Storm Martinho had a “greater impact” on agricultural farms in the windward region, “mainly on livestock producers, with not very significant damage to facilities, sheds and animal drinking troughs”.
“There was some fruit falling in the orchards, which is normal with the wind and heavier rain, and there are situations of rot caused by the increased presence of fungi,” he said.
According to Diana Ferreira, “these are situations that are controllable, with treatments and by removing fruit from fruit centers that are not in a condition to reach the final consumer.”
“Fruit that is not suitable for sale will be sent by fruit centers for valorisation, that is, for the production of biogas or organic compounds,” she explained.
Diana Ferreira assured that the information gathered from producers “is that there are no very large financial losses associated with the bad weather of the last few days”.
For the vice-president of Fedagri, although the bad weather has affected agriculture, “the balance ends up being more positive than negative, taking into account the lack of water that existed as a result of the drought in recent years”.
“This rain was very welcome and we have to see the positive aspects, as we really needed water to replenish the dams and recharge our aquifers,” he highlighted.
According to data released by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), between 18th and 24th March, there was an increase from 78% to 84% (6%) of water stored in the six reservoirs that support the public supply and agriculture of the Algarve.
For Diana Ferreira, “there is the water from the dams, but it is also necessary to know what the impact of the rain was on groundwater”, stressing that 60% of agriculture in the Algarve depends on this water.
“In addition to agriculture, there is also a large population, mainly in the interior and the Algarve Barrocal, that depends on groundwater,” she highlighted.
Source https://www.algarveprimeiro.com/ - Photo courtesy of Depositphotos.com
