AVA-ASAJA calls for measures for the almond sector due to drought and low prices in Spain

In the midst of the almond campaign, the Valencian Association of Farmers (AVA-ASAJA) has sounded the alarm to the administrations, the companies that sell and process nuts, mainly the nougat producers, and the consumers themselves to avoid a "disastrous" balance in the accounts of the producers of the Valencian Community. "Indeed, the significant decrease in the harvest due to the drought, the escalation of production costs and the low prices at source established in this initial part of the season, threaten to cause serious losses to the farmers, who already come from several ruinous campaigns," said the entity in a statement. AVA-ASAJA foresees an autonomous production of approximately 4,000 tons of grain, which means a decrease of 40% with respect to the productive potential and 10% with respect to last year. In dry farms this decrease is accentuated up to reach 70%. The incidence of the almond wasp - against which there are few effective solutions - and the hail storms that ...