The president of the Association of Producers and Exporters of Horticultural Products of the Region, Proexport, Juan Marín, has warned that the sudden arrival of the cold has slowed down the production of seasonal vegetables, so there will be less available in the market and they will be more expensive.
Marín, who is also president of the Community of Irrigators of Lorca, addressed the water shortage situation, recalling how a few months ago, Murcian producers decided to take a part of their crop to other bordering municipalities, such as Albacete, Hellin or Tobarra, and even Caravaca, because "there is water there." However, in these areas it is colder, and with the arrival of the first frosts, there has been a "regulation of the supply that is beneficial for us."
"There is water there, but the climate is not as favourable, which means there will be less production and prices will go up," he stressed, stating that if the structural lack of water in the region isn't solved, this will become the general trend.
Marín, who stressed that the sector is very concerned, was "clearly disconsolate." He said that the Minister of Agriculture "has been promising us desalinated water for two years and we are not getting it," referring to the commitment of the presidents of both Murcia and Valencia to double the desalination capacity of the three Acuamed plants (Torrevieja, Águilas and Valdelentisco).
"This does not solve anything in the short term, and the commitment was for this expansion to be ready in February or March, but now it seems that it will not happen before the summer," he said.
Marín, who is also president of the Community of Irrigators of Lorca, addressed the water shortage situation, recalling how a few months ago, Murcian producers decided to take a part of their crop to other bordering municipalities, such as Albacete, Hellin or Tobarra, and even Caravaca, because "there is water there." However, in these areas it is colder, and with the arrival of the first frosts, there has been a "regulation of the supply that is beneficial for us."
"There is water there, but the climate is not as favourable, which means there will be less production and prices will go up," he stressed, stating that if the structural lack of water in the region isn't solved, this will become the general trend.
Marín, who stressed that the sector is very concerned, was "clearly disconsolate." He said that the Minister of Agriculture "has been promising us desalinated water for two years and we are not getting it," referring to the commitment of the presidents of both Murcia and Valencia to double the desalination capacity of the three Acuamed plants (Torrevieja, Águilas and Valdelentisco).
"This does not solve anything in the short term, and the commitment was for this expansion to be ready in February or March, but now it seems that it will not happen before the summer," he said.
Source: laopiniondemurcia.es
