Citrus campaign confronts challenges following rainfall impact on Spanish agriculture

Recent heavy rains have had a significant impact on agriculture in several regions of Spain, severely affecting Castilla-La Mancha, Valencia, and Andalusia. Cádiz, Almería, and Málaga have been particularly affected, with over 1,000 rescues conducted. The citrus campaign, particularly the orange harvest in Seville, has seen its forecasts altered.

In Seville, the harvest, scheduled to begin this week, has been delayed until the land recovers, according to Asaja-Sevilla. The mandarin harvest in Valencia, earlier and focused on the Levante region, has suffered total losses due to the DANA, which has devastated crops and caused serious material damage. Currently, 80% of the mandarins on the market come from this area, 15% from Huelva, and the remaining 5% from Seville.

Before this situation, the Andalusian Ministry of Agriculture estimated a citrus production of 2.26 million tons for 2024-2025, marking a recovery from the previous season. Nationally, the Ministry of Agriculture projected a production of 5.8 million tons, with 3 million tons of oranges, an 8.8% increase over the previous campaign. However, these figures in Valencia are now uncertain.

Asaja-Sevilla points out that the yield and forecasts have become uncertain, and the numbers will depend on many factors after the DANA, which has further shortened the harvest in Valencia. While the orange campaign in Seville could be positive, the situation in the Levante will directly affect the market, which could lead to higher prices, warn the same sources.

source: elcorreoweb.es

photo: diariocordoba.com