The strong storms accompanied by hail recorded earlier in the week have mainly affected the central and south-westerns areas of the regions of La Costera (especially Vallada, Canals, Montesa and Font de la Figuera), La Vall d'Albaida (Fontanars, Ontinyent, l'Olleria, Aielo de Malferit, Castelló de Rugat and Pobla del Duc), as well as the Ribera Alta (Gavarda, Tous, Antella, Càrcer, Alberic and La Garrofera, in Alzira). In total, about 9,500 hectares have been affected, causing direct damages worth about 7 million Euro, according to a report prepared by the technical services of LA UNIÓ de Llauradors.
The total area affected is estimated at around 9,470 hectares (3,663 hectares in La Costera, 5,107 hectares in the Vall d'Albaida and 712 hectares in the Ribera Alta). 44% of the acreage affected corresponds to citrus fruits, 32% to kakis, 15% to vineyards, 6% to olives and 3% to almonds.
Some of the areas affected had already suffered the impact of other hail storms and late winter frosts this year; as a result, the damage and economic losses are accumulating. In fact, the La Costera region had already suffered a strong hail storm last July that hit practically the same municipal areas and affected almost 2,000 hectares, and the frosts recorded at the end of last winter caused damages and losses to kaki producers in the Vall d'Albaida and in the Ribera Alta.
There is a risk of more storms and hail for a few more days, so this estimate could still change.
LA UNIÓ will request the same urgent measures as in previous months for those affected by adverse weather conditions: the free distribution of healing products, the granting of direct aid to farms with hail damage, de minimis aid from the European Union of up to 15,000 Euro per farm, the reduction of the IRPF module, the pardoning of the IBI of the cultivated plots and the buildings in them, a reduction of Social Security contributions for a year, the establishment of loans with subsidized interest and also a series of actions and aid for the marketing cooperatives affected.
Regarding insurances, LA UNIÓ will ask for the damage assessments carried out by Agroseguro to be completed as soon as possible and for compensations to be paid out based on the extent of the damage and the commercial requirements.