The strong hailstorm recorded this Monday in the province of Lleida caused very high losses in the field, with damages reaching up to 80% in late peach crops and over 70% in almond farms, according to data provided by Unió de Pagesos (UP).
The agricultural union has urged this Tuesday the Department of Agriculture of the Govern to evaluate "quickly" the damages caused, with the aim that the farmers can access their plots "as soon as possible" and that a modification of the IRPF modules is applied due to the loss of income, as detailed in a statement.
In concrete terms, in municipalities such as Almenar, Alfarràs, and Ivars de Noguera (Lleida), up to 80% of the late peach crops would have been affected, while pear and fig plantations have also suffered damages, although at a lower percentage.
In other farms located in Alcarràs, Albatàrrec, Corbins (Lleida), and in the Lleida orchard, the hailstorm left an impact of between 20% and 30% on pear, apple, and peach productions, which represents a significant impact on local economies.
According to UP, more than 80% of the stone fruit in the Segrià region (Lleida) had already been harvested before the hail episode, just as more than 70% of the pear production, which has prevented the damages from being even greater in these varieties.
Regarding dried fruit, the union has specified that the hail caused around 70% of the almonds to fall in certain areas of Tremp, Abella de la Conca, and Sant Romà d'Abella (Lleida), leaving the trees practically empty in some farms.
Damages in the province of Tarragona
The storm also had significant consequences in the province of Tarragona. In the municipalities of Falset, Marçà, Capçanes, and in the area near the Guiamets reservoir (Tarragona), the hail affected approximately 50% of the vineyards that were still pending harvest.
In the Ribera d'Ebre region (Tarragona), the hail caused damages to asbestos roofs and solar panels of various agricultural farms, although most of the sweet fruit in the area had already been harvested when the instability episode occurred.