Frost and hailstorms have caused losses of up to 170 million Euro this year for the fruit industry in Spain. According to data from the Spanish Association of Combined Agricultural Insurance Companies (Agroseguro), 170 million will be paid to fruit growers; 90 for the damages caused by hail and the rest for the low temperatures. Agroseguro estimates that 65,000 hectares have been affected by adverse weather.
But this data involve exclusively those with insurance coverage. It must be taken into account that there are uninsured producers, and that insurances do not usually cover all the damages, as there will be differences between what the appraisal says and the actual performance that the land would have delivered.
In any case, Agroseguro's statistics give an idea of the severity of the damages for the Spanish fruit sector. According to the entity, what will be paid in compensations this year is the highest figure since fruit damage insurances exist.
By regions, the most affected have been Murcia, Catalonia and Aragon. In Murcia, 12,000 hectares have suffered damages, for which 47.5 million Euro will be paid in compensations; in Catalonia, 13,174 hectares and 45.9 million Euro; and in Aragon 11,500 hectares and 26.37 million Euro in compensations.
These are followed by the Region of Valencia, with 13 million Euro in compensations; La Rioja, with 12.2 million Euro; Extremadura, with 11.9 million; and Andalusia, with 11.22 million Euro in compensations.
Source: ABC