Tomato production in Spain suffers losses due to drought and pests

The producing areas of Andalusia, Extremadura and part of Murcia are affected by severe drought and the plague of nematodes. As a result, many tomato growers are in danger of harvest losses close to 60%, warns the Union of Farmers and Ranchers Unions.

 

Industrial tomato production normally occupies 28,000 hectares that provide 2 million tons of the fruit for 210 million euros. This season, the area decreased to 17,000 hectares, causing a loss of more than 30 million euros.

 

The drought and the plague, in some areas, caused harvest losses of up to 100%, without being able to combat the disease that is becoming more and more resistant to treatments.

 

Unión de Uniones requests the Ministry of Agriculture to authorize its use in soil disinfection before planting tomatoes in Las Vegas Alta and Baja de Guadiana, in the Coria region in the province of Cáceres, and, in this way, to be able to avoid repeat losses.

 

fuente: sevilla.abc.es