Santa Cruz de Tenerife (EFE).- The Association of Farmers and Ranchers (Asaga) of the Canary Islands stated on Thursday that the drought has caused the loss of 60 percent of the potato crop and 80 percent of the cereal crop in the north of Tenerife, and has claimed compensatory aid for the more than 300 affected farmers.
In a statement, Asaga describes as “sinister” the serious losses that are being recorded 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 Canarian diet, are especially worrying, adds the association.
It also explains that although the percentage of damage is higher in cereal farms, as it is a minority crop on the islands, its repercussion on the internal market has a lesser impact, while still being relevant for farmers who are dedicated to cereal activity. .
In order to deal with this scenario, Asaga Canarias Asaja demands from the public administrations 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, the high temperatures registered , above 28ºC at the beginning of spring and relative humidity below 20% have caused damage to a total of 360 hectares of both potato and cereal crops.
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, which which 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.
For the president of Asaga Canarias Asaja, Ángela Delgado, an economic injection is urgently needed as a way to sustain the income of the affected producers in order to discourage them from abandoning the potato crop, which is “vital for our diet without forgetting that it is an emblematic product of our insular culture”.
In his opinion, “the administrations must be participants in the adverse climatic circumstances that we are experiencing and provide the necessary funds to save this exceptional situation.”
At the same time, Asaga Canarias holds meetings with Agroseguro to assess the damage and points out that a total of 180 hectares of the 225 affected are currently insured.
The agrarian organization adds that the potato surface in the Canary Islands stood at 4,048 hectares in 2021 (2,638 irrigated hectares and 1,410 dry land), 1,461 hectares less than those registered in 2015. EFE