If we speak in economic terms, Castile-La Mancha's onion sector achieved a turnover exceeding 215 million Euro in 2015, generating a total of more than 500,000 wages for the planting, cultivation and harvesting.
Given the importance of this crop, and the difficult situation it is going through, with the growing limitation on the number of active substances authorised for the control of pests and diseases, the Association of Onion Producers of Castile-La Mancha, PROCECAM, will hold a conference on Wednesday 30 November to discuss the various research projects being developed by this Association with the goal of improving the crop's cultivation.
The conference will feature a presentation on the advances made in the application of starter fertilizers in onions, addressing their functions and advantages, by the professor of the University of Castile-La Mancha, Mrs Concepción Fabeiro Cortes, of the Department of Plant Production and Agricultural Technology, as well as the presentation of a study on the application of herbicides to the crop within the current context, marked by the disappearance of several active substances, by Ms Llanos Simón, FUNDESCAM researcher, and Mr Álvaro Delgado, research technician at PROCECAM. To finish the day Mr Francisco de La Cruz, head for onions at a company associated with ANOVE, the National Association of Plant Breeders, will talk about the development of new onion varieties and their cultivation in the world.
The day will close with a speech by the General Director for Agriculture of the Region of Castile-La Mancha, Ms Cruz Ponce Isla, and the president of PROCECAM, Mr Justo Gutiérrez Jerez, who will invite all attendees to an exhibition area, where the various companies that have taken part in research projects at this Association will showcase their innovations for the upcoming campaign.