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Date Published: 25/03/2022

ARCHIVED - Murcia fruit becomes latest casualty of price hikes and transport strikes

ARCHIVED ARTICLE

Production costs of stone fruit in the Region of Murcia are set to rise by 30%

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Murcia fruit becomes latest casualty of price hikes and transport strikes

Spiralling fuel and energy prices have prompted indefinite demonstrations by the transport sector across Spain leading to empty supermarket shelves and ramped-up costs across the board.

And now it appers stone fruit in the Region of Murcia has become the latest casualty, with the government warning the current crisis situation will lead to an increase in production costs of 30%.

This is due to the inflated price of diesel, fertilisers, phytosanitary products, plastics, cardboard and electricity, as well as the obvious export issues resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the increase in the competitiveness of the markets.

Also read: Taxi drivers in Spain to stage mass protest against fuel prices

The Regional Minister of Water, Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Environment, Antonio Luengo, met with with representatives of the associations of producers, Apoexpa and Fecoam, in Cieza this week, to discuss the uncertainty generated by the increased costs and distribution problems ahead of the upcoming stone fruit campaign.

"We have been warning for months that the situation could be unsustainable for the professionals in the field, who were assuming exorbitant costs trying not to affect the consumer's pocket and suffering continuous attacks, so it is becoming increasingly necessary to provide security to farmers and exporters who are having to face numerous problems and inconveniences during this time of the fruit season," Luengo pointed out.

During the stone fruit season 2022 in the Region of Murcia, the production of top quality fruit is estimated to reach around 400,000 tonnes, "although the uncertainty will be marked by the 30% increase in costs", the Minister warned.

Last year, the season ended with a production of 373,069 tonnes, with peaches and apricots standing out (300,958 and 54,739 tonnes, respectively), as well as plums and cherries.

In terms of exports, the Region of Murcia reaffirmed its position as the leading exporter of apricot in Spain and the second largest for peach. Some 92% of exports were destined for European trade, predominantly Germany, France and Italy.

Now read: Transport strike threatens Spring Festival in Murcia

But it's not just skyrocketing prices that threaten the fruit sector. Whilst the recent heavy rain has been welcomed by farmers, it could spell further trouble.

According to Luengo, "the first estimates indicate that the rain has been quite positive for the crops, as it has not rained torrentially, although it could have consequences due to the large number of consecutive days of rainfall and the absence of sunshine."

The problem with continuous rain without periods of sunshine is that it hinders the pollination of the crop varieties that are in flower "due to the lack of flight of the pollinators", as well as the fact the pollen is watered down, "which makes its movement more difficult", explained the Minister.

Image: Archive

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