Courgette, cucumber and aubergine area planted in the southern Spanish region of Almeria is increasing at the expense of capsicum and the traditional crop of green beans, according to figures released by growers’ association Coag.
The potential area under production of courgettes in Almeria has risen 31 per cent compared to last season, and some 4,200 hectares have been planted with the crop compared to 3,200ha last season. The story is similar in production of aubergine and cucumber.
The reason for the changes among producers is the poor results of recent seasons for pepper and bean crops. Courgettes are relatively low-cost to produce compared to other protected crops and offer less risk as they have a maximum 40-day growing cycle and can be cropped almost daily, according to the Spanish grower group.
In the case of cucumbers, Coag reports that growers are moving towards varieties that are planted later, after early plantings suffered badly at the hands of the weather in the last few seasons.
Producers are moving away from capsicum as the product is harvested all in one go, presenting a much greater risk. It has also been falling prey to disease which growers have found hard to contain with authorised plant-protection products.
The situation for green-bean growers is more worrying, according to Coag. “Prices were not that bad in 2005-06,” said a Coag spokesperson. “But they have to contend with high production costs and a shortage of the necessarily skilled labour required. They have also seen their market share eroded by fierce competition from Morocco. Little by little, we are seeing this traditional Almerian crop disappear.”
Meanwhile, the agriculture committee of the Almeria Chamber of Commerce decided this month to set up a territorial quality marque. The decision comes following criticism on international markets of the area’s products and it will aim to associate the term Almeria with product quality, reduction of pesticide residues, good labour practices and sustainability.
