The president of Asaja Córdoba, Fernando Adell, announced this Thursday the start of almond harvesting in the province, a campaign that begins with a production volume lower than expected, estimated at around 5-10% less, due to the attack of the red spider. This situation is attributed to the lack of available active substances and the increase in generations of this pest, which has caused an intense leaf drop in the current campaign and, consequently, a reduction in the harvest, but, above all, is putting next year's production at risk.
In light of this scenario, Asaja Córdoba has requested from the Junta de Andalucía and the Ministry of Agriculture the authorization of exceptional treatments that allow for the containment of this pest's attack in the plantations. The initial forecast pointed to a positive almond campaign in terms of yield, with an estimated production of 11,000 tons, which represented a 30% increase compared to the previous campaign.
This expected increase in production was supported by two fundamental elements: on one hand, the abundant rains recorded during the autumn, winter, and the beginning of spring and, on the other, the compensatory effect of harvests, since "the previous years were not good and the alternate bearing effect is very important," Adell emphasized.
The precipitation has allowed for the restoration of water reserves both in the soils and in the reservoirs, which present very high levels after several years of drought. This guarantees sufficient irrigation supplies for the final phase of the crop and "contributes to improving harvest expectations in the main producing areas of the province."
Reduction of almond surface area in the province
However, Adell has expressed his "concern about the large figures of the decrease in almond surface area due solely to the exponential proliferation of the pest known as the capnodis (Capnodis tenebrionis), which causes the death of the trees," and lamented that, "since they removed effective active substances from the market and reduced the number of applications, the surface area continues to decline." Data from the regional administration indicate that in Córdoba more than 2,500 hectares of almond have been lost in two years.
For the maximum responsible person of the agricultural organization, "this situation silently ends the almond plantations in Córdoba," for which he has reiterated his request to the Junta de Andalucía and the Ministry of Agriculture to "provide solutions because this is only the beginning of what will happen if the use of phytosanitary products continues to be prohibited in this and other crops."
In this context, Asaja Córdoba has demanded from the administration the exceptional authorization of certain active substances and the implementation of specific aid for farmers who have been forced to uproot their plantations, in line with those approved last year for downy mildew in vineyards and cottony cushion scale in olive groves, given that "the continuity and survival of agricultural operations is being endangered in many cases and this was the main argument for the existence of those aids."