La Unió Llauradora estimates that melon and watermelon producers in the Spanish Region of Valencia will suffer 44 million Euro in direct losses this season because of the impact of the weather, which has halved the harvest of both crops. According to the estimates of the professional agricultural organization, watermelon producers will lose 27 million Euro, and melon producers will lose 17 million Euro.
The watermelon production will hardly exceed 35,000 tons, which represents a 52% drop compared to last season, and a 63% drop compared to the average of the last fifteen years. As for the melon production, it will amount to around 17,000 tons, which represents a 53% drop compared to last season and a 62% reduction compared to the average of the last 15 years.
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, a total of 1,534 hectares of watermelon have been planted in the Region of Valencia (57% in the province of Valencia, 23% in the province of Castellon and 20% in the province of Alicante). These figures entail a very slight increase of only 2% compared to last year. However, it should be noted that since 2000, the area planted with watermelons in Valencia has been reduced by 31%.
Data from the Ministry of Agriculture reveal that the area planted with melons in the Region of Valencia stands at 1,260 hectares (71% in the province of Alicante, 20% in the province of Castellon and 9% in the province of Valencia). The decline in the area since 2000 is also alarming and, as in the case of watermelon, it is down by 31%.
The official prices that Valencian watermelon producers are currently receiving are 60% higher than those of last season. However, this increase does not offset either the sharp reduction in the production or the increases in production costs, which on average are 20% higher than those of previous seasons.
As for melons, the prices received by producers are twice as high as those paid last season, but as in the case of watermelons, they do not make up for the reduction in the harvest, or the increases in production costs, which are even higher than in the case of watermelons.
For more information:
La Unió
https://launio.org