The bad weather that turned the Algarve in recent weeks has caused an estimated 30% citrus production and “damage” in agricultural exploration, the algarve farmers’ source told Lusa.
“There were some damage, but nothing too large. The agricultural sector in the Well [oeste] Algarve turned out to be the most affected, with losses at the level of the facilities, ”said Diana Ferreira, vice president of the Algarvia Agriculture Federation (Fedagri).
According to the representative of the Algarve Citrine Operators Association (Algarorange), weather conditions had “some impact on the orchards, and 30% of production had been affected.”
However, he explained, the Martinho storm had a “greatest impact” on the Well Agricultural Explorations, “especially in cattle producers, with not very expressive losses at the level of facilities, telheiros and animal drinkers.”
“In the orchards there was some citrus drop, which turns out to be normal with the wind and a stronger rain, and there are situations of rotting caused by increasing the presence of fungi,” noted the official.
According to Diana Ferreira, “these are situations that are controllable, with treatments and the choice in fruit plants that cannot reach the end consumer.”
“Fruit that cannot be marketed will be sent by the fruit plants for appreciation, that is, for the production of biogas or organic compounds,” he said.
Diana Ferreira assured that the information collected from the producers “is that there are no costs [prejuízos] very large associated with bad weather of recent days. ”
For the vice president of Fedagri, although bad weather has affected agriculture, “the balance turns out to be more positive than negative, taking into account the lack of water that was due to the drought of recent years.”
“This rain was very welcome and we have to see the positive aspects, because we needed a lot of water to recharge the dams and recharge our aquifers,” he said.
According to data released by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), between March 18 and 24, there was an increase from 78% to 84% (6%) of water stored in the six reservoirs that support the public supply and the agriculture of the Algarve.
For Diana Ferreira, “there is the notion of dams of the dams, but it is also necessary to know what was the impact of rainfall on groundwater”, stressing that 60% of the Algarve agriculture depends on these waters.
“In addition to agriculture, there is also a lot of population, especially the interior and the baroque Algarve depending on groundwater,” he said.
The official considers that “it is essential” that it also disseminates the data related to groundwater, because it is “a key point that can not be forgotten.”
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