Córdoba, (EFE).- The Andalusian reservoirs of Andalusia framed in the Guadalquivir Hydrographic Confederation (CHG) have received a total of 773 cubic hectometres of water so far this hydrological year, between October 1 and September 31 , which is 61 percent less than the average of the last 25 years, a dramatic state that leads the Andalusian countryside to an agonizing situation.
The CHG celebrates tomorrow a new unloading commission that is essential for farmers. Although since the last one held on March 2, “there have been no substantial changes in terms of rainfall, nor in terms of contributions,” according to the president of the organization, Joaquín Páez, told EFE.
In this way, as he explains, in the current hydrological year there has only been “a rainfall of 292 liters per square meter.” This is “20 percent less than the average of the last 25 years.” In addition, the water that has reached the reservoirs “has been 773 hm3”, that is, “61% less than the average water in the last 25 years”.
Some data that will lead the CHG to “basically maintain the forecasts” of a discharge of “between 375 and 400 hm3”. In addition, the maximum endowments are “700 cubic meters per hectare”, although the requests that arise from the commission will be studied.
“Unfortunately there have been no changes,” lamented Páez. Although he has been open to an “advance” of the start of the “irrigation campaign”. Although it will depend on the decision taken between the users of the basin and the “meteorological conditions”. At the moment they are not favourable, and with the aim of “using every drop of available water”.
Without water, the Andalusian countryside situation is dramatic
But the sum of the shortage of dammed water, with only 22.61% in the general regulation and 25.39% for the total of the Guadalquivir, the lack of rainfall and the high temperatures, have led the Andalusian countryside to a situation ” dramatic”, according to the different agrarian associations consulted by EFE. They assure that it is a “homogeneous bad” state throughout the region and for all crops.
In this way, winter cereals, such as wheat, barley, oats and rye and whose cultivation occurs between October and February, are “at the limit of persistence”. If it doesn’t rain in the next 15 or 20 days, they are doomed to dry up and “not be viable”. While the sowing of sunflowers, which must be produced in spring, is being “significantly reduced”.
For its part, winter vegetables, such as onion and garlic, are in such a “critical” situation that the CHG has been asked “to bring irrigation forward as soon as possible.” Although a small allocation was authorized last week for the Córdoba area, this has not been the case for crops in the province of Jaén. There the need is “urgent” with the risk of “total loss” of crops.
The situation of woody species is also “very worrying”. Mainly in citrus and almond trees, and it is even feared for the “persistence of the grove itself”. Although the greatest urgency lies in the olive grove, the jewel in the crown of the Andalusian countryside and which is in a key phase for the next campaign.
Serious danger of flowering and fattening in the olive grove
The flowering of the olive grove arrives this year earlier than normal, which is usually between the end of April and the first half of May. Therefore, the lack of water causes the olive tree to “lose some strength in flowering” and lead to “not reaching term”. This will prevent the fattening of the fruit and, therefore, a “drastic reduction of the harvest”.
If so, it would mean that “for the first time in history” there would be two “terrible” campaigns in the olive grove. After closing the last harvest with a reduction of 40 percent. Hence, the farmers will also ask the commission for an advance on the availability of water, mainly the irrigated olive grove.
Although the red fruits are almost at the end of the campaign, their water contributions have been reduced by 25 percent. While in the Axarquía region, in Malaga, tropical crops such as avocados or mangoes are also in danger. With some “regrettable” prospects, both the crop and the product itself.
The viability of cotton, corn, rice…
But it is that with the provision of water provided by the CHG, farmers are aware that crops such as cotton, corn or rice, “are going to be viable for us”, just like industrial tomatoes. Therefore, the sector is already debating on adapting a small area for cultivation and allocating the rest to fallow.
Finally, livestock is also in a “very critical” situation due to the absence of pasture. What leads farms to feed cattle based on forage and feed. This entails a significant increase in costs, to which is added that in many areas they have to carry the water with cisterns.
For this reason, faced with this situation, Andalusian farmers and ranchers ask for an “almost millimetric” management of the available water resources and clarify that “more water is not requested”, but rather that the amount committed to “save this situation” be “advanced”. an Andalusian field that dries up and is dying. EFE
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