Crisis in growing tomatoes in Murcia, Spain

Spain 15/11/2023 Losses caused by rugosa virus (ToBRFV) were added to losses caused by heat. Many tomato producers in the Murcia region (Spain) are on the verge of abandoning this crop. According to Remigio Ávila, from the Tomato Department of Asaja, many have suffered considerable losses, at least 40%, due to the rugosa virus (ToBRFV); “Some even suffered 100% losses,” he says. Faced with this critical situation, several farms have been forced to close their doors, and some are already considering the possibility of replacing tomatoes with other crops, such as cucumbers or zucchini. In addition, he emphasizes the importance of using varieties resistant to the pest. He accuses a certain company of having “ripped off” them by selling them supposedly resistant seeds which turned out to be infected with the rugosa virus shortly after planting. The virus is not the only problem, the heat also played a crucial role. Last summer was particularly difficult because it was hot day and ...