ANPCA director Luis Fernando Rubio explained that the plants currently need between 2,000 and 2,500 cubic metres of water per hectare, which is forcing producers to opt for other irrigation methods, such as sprinkling. This translates into a considerable increase in production costs, as a consequence of the high cost of electricity.
Moreover, this situation leads to uncertainty about how much water will be available for the crops and, in turn, "this has an impact on the garlic producer's decision to plant more or fewer hectares."
Rubio points out that "the first irrigations are fundamental for the seed to take root and the plant to grow well."
Also, the incidence of drought puts limits on the acreage available for the planting of garlic; therefore, and while no official data has been reported yet, the forecast is that there will be a reduction.
Source: cadenaser.com
