Insect devastates pepper crops in Andalusia
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Bladi
Pepper growers in Andalusia, Spain, are uprooting some crops after damage from Thrips parvispinus, while others are delaying planting or switching crops. By 15 October, regional authorities had carried out 922 inspections and imposed 272 penalties for failure to comply with measures to control the pest, FreshPlaza reports.
Andalusian authorities carried out 922 inspections and imposed 272 penalties for non-compliance with mandatory measures against Thrips parvispinus, an insect devastating greenhouse pepper crops. The season has also been marked by early uprooting and planting delays, FreshPlaza reported in an interview published on 29 October with Luis Ramos of Dutch company MG Fruit.
The regional government of Andalusia announced in August a 2.9 million euro support package for growers who lost their entire pepper harvest. On 27 October, farming organisations and the regional administration called for new plant protection solutions after the Spanish government rejected temporary authorisation for spirotetramat, according to the Junta de Andalucía.
The crisis is also affecting tomatoes, as Spanish growers reduce their cherry tomato acreage. In the Netherlands, small varieties are selling for between 17 and 18 euros per three kilos, compared with about three euros per kilo for Spanish vine tomatoes, according to FreshPlaza.
After several seasons marked by insufficient volumes, many Spanish growers are considering cultivation projects in Morocco or Turkey. MG Fruit already imports Moroccan produce and is seeing trade with Turkey grow, according to Luis Ramos.
