According to the Northern Agricultural Society (Sociedad Agrícola del Norte -SAN), drought is one of the agricultural sector's main concerns, especially for table grape producers. María Inés Figari, president of SAN, highlighted the urgency of this problem. There has been a reduction in agricultural surface area, and even though there are opportunities to improve irrigation efficiency, it is crucial to increase water availability through the exploitation of wells, the advancement of the construction of desalination plants, and the reuse of water.
This year's heavier winter rains improved productivity in the current fruit-growing season. However, this rainfall does not ensure water availability in the future. The year 2024 started with total water restrictions for agriculture in the Limarí area, although subsequent winter rains brought some relief.
Despite the drought, a good season is expected for table grapes, favored by the adverse weather conditions in the United States (California) that affected local production. This could lead to an increase in demand for Chilean grapes. "The harvest hasn't started yet, but the conditions of the fruit look promising," Figari said, highlighting the good size, color, and condition of the fruit expected this season.
She also addressed the issue of varietal replacement, pointing out the lack of guarantees for producers who made royalty payments for table grape varieties that did not meet export expectations.
The Sociedad Agrícola del Norte was founded on November 17, 1907. With more than 160 members, the entity seeks to incorporate more farmers, paying special attention to medium and small-family farming. The entity is part of the National Agriculture Society's and the Federation of Fruit Producers' boards, contributing to the development of agriculture in the region.
Source: simfruit.cl