Spanish fresh produce association Asaja Murcia has forecastthat as much as 45 per cent of Murcia’s citrus producers could abandon theirfarms in the coming years as a result of the poor results of recent campaigns.
According to the association, disappointing returns receivedover recent seasons has led to many orchards becoming unprofitable, which inturn had resulted in growers looking to switch to other more profitable crops.
Asaja Murcia general secretary Alfonso Gálvez Caravaca said:“The terrible prices that citrus producers have endured are already forcingmany farmers to abandon their citrus orchards and focus on other crops that aremore profitable.”
In a statement, Mr Gálvez argued that the sector requiredmajor restructuring for which the collaboration of the Spanish government wasvital.
“The government cannot continue to remain impassive in theface of the serious problems that are facing producers,” he added.
Mr Gálvez also called on the authorities and the citrussector to put in place a promotional campaign for the products in the domesticmarket that could educate Spanish consumers about the health benefits of eatingthe fruit.
