Over 500 hectares of apricot, peach, cherry, nectarine and flat peach plantations have been badly affected in the Spanish municipality of Fraga by a rain and hail storm that hit the town last Sunday.

Agricultural unions, the UAGA and BDA, reported that the storm has completely destroyed some areas and that there are growers who have yet to report damages to their insurance, as the deadline to do so with Agroseguro has not been reached.

Nuria Florenza, of Asaja, pointed out that a number of plantations have been affected by between 80 and even 100% in some specific areas, especially in Fraga and its surroundings.

She estimates that between 500-1,000 hectares have been affected by the storm, which started around 9 pm on Sunday and reached precipitation levels of between 20 and 30 litres per square metre in just ten minutes.

The UAGA union has also made a preliminary assessment of the damage, which has concentrated in the town of Fraga. Between 600 and 800 hectares of fruit plantations are estimated to have been affected by the storm.

The extent of the damage has varied between 20 and 80%, depending on the area and the crops' phenological stage.

Insurance technicians will culminate their assessment of the damages in the coming days.

Source - http://www.freshplaza.com/