The rains in the province of Almeria during March have been beneficial for some woody crops and cereals but detrimental to watermelon, melon, cauliflower, and broccoli. ASAJA Almeria is closely monitoring the situation and has stressed the importance of having agricultural insurance to face these weather events.
The rains have affected Almeria's watermelon production, generating uncertainty among farmers. The persistent humidity and lack of sunlight have affected the pollination process in extra-early varieties. The lack of bee activity due to rainfall has hindered the flowers' fertilization process, compromising fruit formation. In addition, excess humidity has favored the appearance of fungal diseases and rot, which will further aggravate the situation in the coming weeks. The lack of fruit set will be evident in many hectares in 15 to 20 days. Melon has also been affected, as its flowering and development depend on similar weather conditions.
In the Levante Almeriense, cauliflower has been one of the most affected crops, with losses estimated at 60% of the area. Broccoli has also suffered significant damage, reaching 40% of the area. Lettuce has been less affected but some farms have recorded incidents due to the accumulation of water and excessive humidity.
The greenhouses' situation in the Poniente Almeriense region and Almeria's Metropolitan area worries producers. Many traditional structures have been unable to properly evacuate water, causing waterlogging in crops. Persistent moisture in tomato crops, for example, can favor the appearance of fungal diseases, such as Botrytis, which could compromise production in the coming weeks.
For more information:
Asaja Almeria
Email: info@asajaalmeria.org
https://asajaalmeria.org/