"The Coordinator of Farmers' and Livestock Organizations (COAG) is concerned about the poor almond harvest being recorded so far at the start of the campaign in the main production areas. The volume harvested is 30 to 50% lower than the volumes expected in the initial forecast. Production is lower in the irrigated areas, but presents bigger problems in the rain-fed productions."

"The yields in kilograms per tree are low or very low, something that adds to almond caliber problems. These situations result in a productive loss that directly affects the producers' profitability per hectare. As a result o the low harvest and low prices paid for their product at origin, producers might not be able to cover their expenses."

Last June, the State Board of Nuts, of which COAG is a part, estimated a harvest of 120,633 tons of almond grain for this 2023 campaign, i.e. 49% above the average of the last three years. However, the Board had warned that the final harvest could be smaller due to the negative impact of the different adverse weather episodes and, especially, the long period of drought that affected the main producing areas.

COAG has already stated that the MAPA's Royal Decree, which has measures to alleviate the effects of drought in the agricultural sector, is insufficient to deal with the losses generated and urges to address the situation more forcefully. In this sense, they demand the C.C.A.A. to multiply the aforementioned aid in the most affected areas, as allowed by said Royal Decree. Moreover, production protection policies, such as agricultural insurance, must also be redesigned within the context of a climate crisis that especially affects rain-fed productions, which includes most nut crops.

Source - https://www.freshplaza.com