Spring can be an unstable season with wild temperature changes; warm, pre-summer days mixed in with snow and sub-zero temperatures.

This was the case on the 30th of March (Palm Sunday) in the north-west of the province where temperatures plummeted to minus 7ºC during the night, wiping out the almond crop, in municipalities like Puebla de don Fadrique; minus 5ºC in Galera and Baza, or minus 3ºC in Castril and Cúllar.

It couldn’t have come at worse moment because the almond trees had just finished flowering and were bearing tiny buds that would become almonds.

Nearly 100% of the almond crop across 90,000 hectares were destroyed, affecting approximately 7,000 producers. Consequently, the sector faces over 40-million euros in direct economic losses, prompting calls for the region to be declared a disaster zone.

What about crop insurances? Many farmers have to choose between insuring a crop and buying fertiliser with the cost of which climbing thanks to the Iran War. Many, made the wrong choice. It means that a family will lose their entire income for the year – imagine being laid off with no salary for a year. It means, of course, sinking into debt through bank loans… if they can get them.

Last year, for example, the combined harvest for this region of the province was around 10,000 tonnes of almond nuts (kernels). Obviously, the price varies according to the quality at around five or six euro a kilo. So, the area brought in between 50m and 60m euros.

Finally, the Costa Tropical, relies on avocados and other subtropical fruits, but up in the north-west of the province, it’s almonds, olives and cereals.

(News: Puebla Don Fadrique, Altiplano, Granada, Andalucia)

Keywords: A Cold-Snap Disaster, Almond Harvest, Sub-Zero, Crop Destroyed, Economical Ruin, Crop Insurance

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