Spain: Producers expect a drop in capacity in the citrus campaign affected by pests

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) predicts a 1% drop compared to the previous season and 8.6% compared to the average of the last five campaigns. Oranges are the citrus fruits that will record the highest production, representing 51% of the total volume, and 8.8% more will be produced than the previous season, but 8.2% less than the average. After the record production of the last campaign, lemon production would fall and would be set at 953,661 tons, according to the estimate, which would be 20.5% less than last season. Grapefruit would increase, registering a forecast of 86,305 tons, 0.6% more than the previous campaign and 8.3% more than the average. "There will be less harvest than forecast," said the president of Asaja-Alicante, José Vicente Andreu, in statements to Efeagro, since both in the Valencian Community and in Murcia the crops are being affected by the lack of water. Regarding temperatures, the head of citrus fruits at COAG, Pedro Gomariz, has ...