Stone fruit trees in Aragon seriously affected by the shark virus

In Aragon, the peach and nectarine sector is seriously affected by the sharka virus, with Maella and Mazaleón being the most affected localities.

 

Víctor Prats, president of CHA Bajo Aragón Caspe, requested the support of the regional government to implement a specific aid programme to protect the sector.

 

Prats stressed the urgency of supporting producers and cooperatives in Maella and Monzón, whose harvests have been drastically reduced due to the virus. It is estimated that the economic cost of eradicating the infected trees could amount to 4 million euros over ten years, negatively affecting employment and the local economy in the areas involved, with an estimated impact of around 100 jobs.

 

In response to this crisis, the Government of Aragon had previously promoted measures, such as the order AGA/1048/2020 of 19 October, which encouraged the uprooting of infected trees. However, this measure has complicated the local economic situation, leaving cooperatives without enough fruit to maintain their operations.

 

For this reason, CHA has proposed a non-legislative initiative in the Agriculture Commission of the Aragonese Parliament, demanding the creation of a direct economic aid fund for the agricultural cooperatives of Maella and Mazaléon, and for the affected farmers. This aid seeks to alleviate the economic damage caused by the sharka virus in stone fruit crops.