Citrus producers are concerned about the threat of the "pixat" and about the risk of mandarin skins being affected by the excess water; a result of the latest rains. In fact, the harvest has been delayed due to the flooding of fields in the Region of Valencia.
The Valencian Association of Agricultural Producers (AVA) has pointed out that the citrus varieties that are now at the optimum point of ripeness could suffer fungal problems due to the excess water.
The accumulation of water could also cause root asphyxiation in citrus and kakis, according to the general secretary of La Unió de Llauradors i Ramaders, Carles Peris, who reported that the harvest of citrus, kakis, vegetables and tiger nuts will have to be delayed, given the flooding of the fields.
According to Peris, the appearance of the "pixat" will depend on how the weather conditions develop in the coming weeks, because if high temperatures and humidity are recorded, the problem will only get worse, while low temperatures and dry weather could help mitigate or slow down the problem.
Nevertheless, the rains of recent days will be beneficial for the late varieties which are harvested from January, with both sizes and calibers expected to improve.
Both agrarian organizations already have evidence of damage to infrastructures, specifically rural roads and walls, which is preventing access to the fields.
In fact, in recent days, AVA has received four or five reports of flooded fields in La Safor.
However, the same sources have highlighted the positive impact of the rains in the cleaning of trees, the filling of aquifers and on the pastures for livestock.
AVA and La Unió will wait for the effects of the rains to be assessed before determining whether there will be any crop losses.
Source: EFE
