Severe winds in the Spanish region of Valencia over recent days have caused significant damage to citrus groves, greenhouses and other crops, with some farmers reportedly losing up to 100 per cent of their production.
According to Valencia-based fresh produce associations Ava-Asaja and La Unió, the storms that hit the region have caused major fruit falls in citrus and avocado groves, and trees have reportedly been uprooted in the worst affected zones.
Production of the Navel, Naveline and Late Lane citrus varieties have been particularly badly affected, Ava-Asaja said, while production of a number of greenhouse crops – especially tomatoes, peppers and aubergines – is also said to have suffered damage.
Much of Valencia’s agricultural infrastructure, including heating equipment, fences and windbreakers, was also damaged by the severe winds, in addition to the major damage to high numbers of greenhouses.
The province of Marina Baixa was particularly hard hit and La Unió reported that the storms left greenhouses torn and broken, and the majority of the province’s avocado and citrus crop on the ground.
In the face of the seriousness of the damage and the urgent need to repair the region’s agricultural infrastructure, Ava-Asaja president Cristóbal Aguado has called on Valencia’s ministry of agriculture to take steps to aid stricken producers.
