The Association of Farmers and Ranchers of the Canary Islands (Asaga Canarias Asaja) has described as “Sinister” the serious ones losses that are being recorded this year, both in the potato and cereal harvests in the north of tenerife.
Through a statement, the Association has detailed that the losses reach between 60% and 80%, respectively, due to the drought that has been experienced on the island since February, the last month so far this year with a significant presence of rainfall.
The consequences that the low potato harvest may have on the marketing and consumption of this tuber, considered the basis of the diet of the Canaries, are especially worrying, although he points out that the percentage of damage is greater in cereal farms, as it is a minority crop. on the islands, its repercussion on the internal market has a lesser impact, without ceasing to be relevant for farmers who are engaged in cereal activity.
In order to deal with this scenario, Asaga Canarias Asaja calls on the public administrations to establish a package of compensatory measures for the more than 300 affected producers, especially in municipalities such as La Orotava and Los Realejos, where the lack of rain, high temperatures registered, above 28ºC at the beginning of spring (from March 23 to April 2), and relative humidity below 20% have caused damage to a total of 360 hectares of crops (both potato and cereal).
In the specific case of potato cultivation, the effects of this climatic cocktail are observed in a reduction of the vegetation cover of around 50%, a decrease in the vegetative cycle in four weeks, as well as the lack of tuberization and fattening, this it means that the tuber does not set correctly and does not reach the appropriate size or weight, resulting in a loss of harvest.
In these two towns (La Orotava and Los Realejos) the largest potato area in the north of the island is concentrated with 678 hectares, according to data from the Government of the Canary Islands, of which 225 hectares are currently damaged in addition to another 135 hectares of cereals ( oats, wheat, millet, fodder and others), that is, a total of 360 hectares. Farmers and technicians consulted by Asaga Canarias Asaja estimate that this season the potato harvest will only reach 40%.
As for the cereal, although the harvest of the crop is expected to begin from the month of July, somewhat later than usual due to the delay in planting this year while waiting for rain, estimates suggest that producers they will only collect around 20% of what is sown.
