The Union of Extremadura has calculated that, due to recent rains in the northern part of Extremadura, more than 12,000 tons of cherries will be lost, valued at over 25 million euros. In a statement, the agricultural organization specified that intermittent rain has fallen over the past two weeks in the northern region, with amounts ranging from 80 to 100 liters per square meter.
"These rains have brought, as usual, very significant damage to the cherry crops that are yet to be harvested, of which more than 90% are uninsured," they lamented.
The Union explained that the season began with losses due to hailstorms and other adverse weather conditions "which led to estimates that out of the 50,000 tons of cherries in a normal season, at least 15,000 would have been lost, leaving an approximate production of 35,000 tons in the current season."
"Currently, there are approximately 25,000 tons of cherries left to harvest, of which the rains have damaged about 12,000 tons, which will not be suitable for the market," they indicated.
In this regard, they recalled that this is the third consecutive year "with very significant losses" in the cherry sector of Cáceres, "to which its low insured percentage is added due to the ineffectiveness of an agricultural insurance that does not cover crop risks and is also very expensive to contract."
Thus, the Union stated that out of the 25 million euros expected to be lost due to these circumstances this season, "it is expected that agricultural insurance compensations will barely cover 4 million, leaving farmers in the northern region to lose another approximately 21 million euros for the season."
For this reason, they argued that "it is urgent to amend this insurance" because, otherwise, it is not guaranteed that farmers can continue to bear these economic losses year after year, "which means ruin for their businesses."
The Union has requested an "urgent meeting" with the regional Ministry of Agriculture to discuss the issue and has convened a meeting in Cabezuela del Valle for next Wednesday, to which officials from the Mancomunidad, cooperatives, warehouses, and other farmer associations have been invited.
"The aim is to lay the groundwork for the implementation of an effective insurance with real coverage at an affordable price that guarantees the economic stability of agricultural businesses in the northern part of Extremadura," they concluded.
Source: Agrodiario
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