The hailstone downpour on the 29th of August wiped out 100% of the Rio Verde vega’s crop yield, says the Town Hall and other experts.

The municipal experts were backed in their estimate by the agricultural engineer, Carlos Ferrón and other experts hired by Cajamar.

Sr. Ferrón explained, “The Almuñécar vega crop was devastated. The average person is not aware of the [the size] of the catastrophe and how it will affect the local economy. The situation is worrisome and will begin to show in the job positions available in that sector.”

Mónica González Fernández, Ingeniera Agrónomo and investigator at the Estación Experimental de Las Palmerías, belonging to Cajamar, emphasized that more important parts of the report that they have drawn up: “in the Rio Verde area and the rest of the town’s vegas, all of the crop was affected with 100% of the fruit damaged.”

As for the trees, says, González Fernández, they have suffered considerable damage, both to new branches and ‘old wood,’ meaning that the farmers will have to cut them back to regenerate new branches. As for younger trees, between three and four years old, some of them won’t recover from the damage.

Mónica González Fernández pointed out that the vegas in Río Seco and Torrecuevas were not so badly affected: “The trees are not so damaged, but the fruit is; 100%.”

Arturo García Novo and Joaquín Montes, who represent local fruit farmers, said, “The damage is not so much what can be seen, because we have not only lost this year’s crop, but next year’s will be affected, as well, which has been confirmed by the experts. The trees will need to recover, which means that they will only produce 50% or 60% of a normal crop.”

Affected farmers are asking the administrations to do something about the damage caused by the storm as 1,000 families are either directly or indirectly affected within the township.

Farmers are reminded that the special office that was opened in San Sebastian (old municipal slaughterhouse), is still taking claims and information from those affected and remains open from 09.00h to 14.00h, and can also be reached on 607 981 617.

(News: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)