The agricultural organisation Asaja-Murcia has reported that yesterday afternoon’s high temperatures combined with the heat wave in recent weeks have seriously damaged production in the Aguilas and Mazarrón area.
“With temperatures above 40 degrees the effects are very negative, especially in the cultivation of tomato,” said secretary general Alfonso Gálvez. “According to our estimates up to 60 per cent of the plantations could be affected.”
The vice president of Asaja-Murcia, Jose Martinez, said he hoped the worst of the hot weather was now over and temperatures would start to fall and further damage would be avoided.
Martinez also called for more flexibility in insurance conditions, since “farmers increasingly pay more money and have fewer benefits”. In fact, heat damage to tomato plants is not covered by agricultural insurance, he said.
