Córdoba garlic harvest set to improve despite water limits and reduced acreage

Garlic producers in Córdoba, Spain, are preparing for a promising harvest this season, even as the total cultivated area remains limited. Following a sharp decline last year, the acreage devoted to garlic has stabilized, despite recent rainfall and water management efforts by the Guadalquivir Hydrographic Confederation (CHG). Harvesting is set to begin after May 15, slightly later than usual due to an unusually warm winter, according to Miguel del Pino, President of Asaja’s Garlic Sector in Córdoba.

Currently, the garlic-growing area in Córdoba stays under 1,000 hectares — just half of what it was in previous years and a fraction of the 9,000 hectares seen during the 1980s and 1990s. Del Pino noted that uncertainty over irrigation availability during the planting period last autumn and winter prompted many farmers to seek land in other provinces, including Seville, Malaga, and Castile-La Mancha.

Garlic cultivation is a high-investment crop, requiring between €12,000 and €13,000 per hectare. Without secure access to water, producers risk significant financial losses. Nonetheless, market demand has kept prices strong. Last season, garlic reached €2.30 per kilogram, nearly double the previous year’s price.

Around 90% of Córdoba’s garlic is exported, with international sales reaching €54.7 million in 2024 — a 20.5% increase over the previous year, according to Spain’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Business. Italy was the top buyer with €16 million in imports, followed by the United States with €10.1 million.

While the sector remains optimistic, Del Pino expressed concern about potential impacts from U.S. trade policy. The U.S. currently imposes a 120% tariff on Chinese garlic and a 20% tariff on Spanish imports. While this could favor Spain in the short term, producers remain wary of any future shifts in American trade direction.

source: abc.es

photo: lacerca.com