Spain - Watermelon cultivation continues to decline in Valencia

28.05.2019 186 views
Watermelon, one of the summer fruits par excellence and traditionally popular in the Region of Valencia, is losing ground, and this gradual decline is only becoming more and more accentuated. In the last five years, the acreage dedicated to this herbaceous plant in the Region of Valencia recorded a severe drop of almost 38%, going from 2.312 hectares in 2014 to only 1.347 in 2018, according to a report from the Valencian Association of Agricultural Producers (AVA-ASAJA) elaborated with official figures from the Ministry of Agriculture. The following chart shows the development of the acreage devoted to watermelons in different Spanish regions: The cause of this trend is the continuous lack of profitability observed in recent campaigns, which has led to a collapse of the price of Valencian watermelons. Because of this, dozens of producers are throwing in the towel. In fact, practically all watermelon growers associated with AVA-ASAJA said they have given up on planting the fruit this season, because they are tired of the disastrous results achieved in previous years. and they do not want to keep losing money. Last year, they received between 5 and 10 cents per kilo, when the production cost amounts to around 20 cents, so the situation is unsustainable. The prospects for the campaign that is now starting aren't good either. The prices paid in Spain's earliest production area, Andalusia, have fallen by 60% over the last fifteen days due to the lack of heat in Europe, which causes consumption to fall. Furthermore, those markets are also supplied with watermelons from Costa Rica, Brazil, Senegal and Morocco. We must bear in mind that the watermelon harvests of Andalusia and Murcia start a little earlier than those of the Region of Valencia, and logically, they also reach the markets before the latter; a factor that plays against Valencian watermelon growers when it comes to price negotiations, especially because, shortly after, they must also compete directly against the abundant supply that comes from Castile-La Mancha. The situation is therefore unsettling for Valencia's watermelon sector, especially for small producers, and brings back memories of what already happened with melons. The Region of Valencia used to be a much better place for the agrarian sector; Valencia was a real power when it came to the production of melons, and nowadays, the acreage devoted to the crop is very small when compared to the whole of Spain. The following chart shows the development of the acreage devoted to melons in different Spanish regions: To be precise, Valencian melons currently represent a meager 2.6% of the total Spanish production, while watermelons are not too far behind and account for just 11% of the country's total acreage. The following chart shows the development of the share of the Region of Valencia's acreage in the Spanish total: "We continue losing ground," said the president of AVA-ASAJA, Cristóbal Aguado, and the outlook is certainly devastating, because, far from seeing an exit from the tunnel, the market prospects are only getting worse. This campaign, even more producers are likely to stop planting. Meanwhile, politicians are failing to deal with the issue head-on, while projecting a bucolic image that is far removed from the harsh reality we live in. We have the right climatic conditions and an ideal soil for the cultivation watermelons, melons and other products, and yet we are allowing this heritage to be lost in a regrettable way." Source - https://www.freshplaza.com
28.03.2024

Canada - How Sask.'s new budget does and doesn't address climate change

The world is facing record heat from human-caused climate change brought on by carbon dioxide and methane emissions, but the words "climate change" don't appear once in Saskatchewan's newly released 75-page 2024-25 budget.

28.03.2024

Kenya - How crop insurance is transforming agriculture

Kenyan farmers continue to face challenges due to unpredictable weather conditions. As a result, they are turning to insurance coverage for their crops and livestock. Insurance experts have reported that most farmers who are insuring their crops are smallholders who rely on rain-fed agriculture and use low-technology farming methods.

28.03.2024

USA - How spring temperature fluctuations, early blooms are impacting Centre County fruit farmers

Plenty of people in Centre County got outside to enjoy temperatures in the 60s and 70s earlier this month, but spring weather fluctuations continue to cause concern for local fruit farmers.

28.03.2024

USA - Farmers use helicopters to warm crops amid spring freezes

An early spring this year means more work for farmers as early blooms face freezing temperatures. Les Dozier's Sta-N-Step Farms has served Northwest Arkansas since 1989. His farm is one of many facing freezing temperatures that could ruin crops.

28.03.2024

Ireland - Potato will be scarce by June, farmers praying for rain to stop

Farmers have to "watch, hope and pray" for a "sweet spot" of dry weather in the coming weeks or many will have to debate whether to plant at all this year. As continuous rainfall adds to already saturated ground, many big and small potato farmers are warning that the Irish favourite variety of Rooster may be in scarce supply by June.

28.03.2024

USA - Several metro Atlanta counties declared natural disaster zones after severe drought

More than 30 Georgia counties — including 10 in metro Atlanta — have been designated “primary natural disaster areas” by the United States Department of Agriculture, the agency announced Thursday.

27.03.2024

Turkey - Climate change may affect grape cultivation

A recent study has highlighted the impact of the climate crisis on viticulture in Turkey, predicting that the expected rise in temperatures and reduced rainfall could shift the suitability of vineyard regions for grape production over the next three decades.

27.03.2024

Crop crisis reveals El Niño’s toll on Southern Africa

New findings from the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (Enso) reference group highlight the significant impact of the 2023/24 El Niño event on various aspects of climate and agriculture in Southern Africa.

istanbul escort şişli escort tbilisi escort şişli escort şişli escort maslak escort istanbul escort beşiktaş escort taksim escort izmir escort ümraniye escort mecidiyeköy escort şişli escort taksim escort ümraniye escort kartal escort şirinevler escort maltepe escort istanbul escort ümraniye escort kadıköy escort vip escort mersin escort istanbul escorts ataköy escort avcılar escort beylikdüzü escort okmeydanı escort şişli escort tuzla escort işitme cihazı sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop sex shop