The first estimate of losses in the citrus area of Salto, as a consequence of the hail and wind registered on Monday 11, involves 570 of the hectares in production, according to the data revealed at the private level by the Union of Fruit Producers and Exporters of the Uruguay (Upefruy).
According to the data recorded by this union, which is involved in almost 100% of the citrus exported by Uruguay, producers lost 7,110 tons of citrus fruit, which is equivalent to some 16,070 wages between field harvest and packing, stated the manager of that institution, Heraldo Mendez.
This represents approximately US $ 550,000 that the workers will not charge and, considering that the agricultural sector generates around six times this, it means the department will lose around US $3 million.
However, the production volume affected only represents 6% of the annual harvest. Unfortunately, for the groups of workers involved in the harvest of these citrus, it means 100% loss of their source of work, said Mendez.
According to estimates 8,382 young plants were lost due to the hailstorm that affected Salto.
There were no losses in blueberries related to the natural phenomenon of Monday of last week, contrary to what happened in 2017, when that item was badly damaged.
Source: elobservador.com.uy