Spain: 5% increase in garlic acreage expected

The Hispano-Franco-Italian Joint Committee held a meeting in the Spanish city of Toledo to analyse and share information on the situation of the garlic sector in the three member countries of this forum. The meeting was attended by representatives of the administration and producers of the highest level from the three countries, who have outlined the planting forecasts for this campaign, as well as the situation of the B import licenses, whose elimination has been opposed by the sector.

Regarding the planting forecasts for this campaign, it was revealed that Spain will register a slight increase in the acreage compared to last year, of around 5%. A remarkable recovery of prices at origin and in the retail, both locally and internationally, has also been confirmed.

Regarding the B licenses, the contact group has agreed to submit a joint document to the European Parliament, so that garlic can receive the same treatment as products such as ethyl alcohol, rice, sugar or hemp, considered specific and which will maintain the B license system, since they are essential to prevent fraud in imports, as has happened in the past.

Córdoba had 19,000 hectares in 2015

According to official figures, Spain last season cultivated over 19,000 hectares in Cordoba, which is the main producing province of Andalusia. We are averaging 2,000 hectares planted in recent years, with an average production of 10,000 kilos per hectare, and it is a very social crop, on which many families depend in various municipalities in our province, since it generates numerous direct and indirect jobs.