Afrucat evaluates losses caused by recent hailstorms in Lleida

Catalan fruit association Afrucat has published an estimate of the losses to this year’s stonefruit and top fruit crop caused by recent hailstorm that affected parts of Lleida. It estimates that around 8 per cent of plantings were affected, equivalent to a decrease of approximately 75,000 tonnes to the harvest.

By order, the most affected products are apricots, down by around 13 per cent or 2,000 tonnes; pears, down by 12-15 per cent or 20,500 tonnes; peaches and nectarines, down 6-8 per cent or 39,000 tonnes; apples, down 3-5 per cent or 12,000 tonnes; plums, down 2 per cent or 150 tonnes; and, finally, cherries, down 0.2 per cent 20 tonnes.

Manel Simon, CEO of Afrucat, commented: “We have assessed the damage caused by the hailstorm a few days ago with our companies and we can assure you that Catalonia will have enough fruit to supply our markets.

“Even so, as always in these cases, the damage depends greatly on the specific area where plantings are located, and there are many farms where hail has affected 100 per cent of their production. We are currently working with the Department of Agriculture to ensure these producers receive the aid they need to keep their businesses moving forward.”

Afrucat said it is working with the Ministry of Agriculture to analyse the various available options to support those primarily affected by the hail and to anticipate what long-term actions should be taken to protect fields and power plants from the elements.

One of the lines of action advocated by the association in this regard is support for protecting production through the installation of hail nets.

Simon said: “We have spoken on several occasions with Minister Ordeig about the need to look at countries like Hungary, which suffer repeated weather incidents in its plantations and where the state subsidises the installation of nets by 60 per cent”.