As if the permanent crisis that agriculture has plunged into due to bad harvests, water shortages, low prices, increased foreign competition or cost increases is not enough, there is an additional factor that has a considerable impact on the sector. , such as damage caused by wildlife. And this The action of wild boars, herrings, mouflons, mountain goats and rabbits, among other animals, is causing losses of close to 12m euros a year in crops in the province of Alicante due to the despair of farmers seeking support. It’s part of the Generalitat. This is what the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, Climate Emergency and Ecological Transition seeks for formulas that will encourage hunting and reduce the population of these species that have no natural predators.
While those closest to the woodlands are the ones most severely damaged by the movement of these animals, there are virtually no crops escaping the oppression of wildlife. A report by Asaja reveals that damage in the Valencian Community as a whole amounts to around 35m euros per year.about one third corresponds to the state of Alicante. And the damage isn’t just concentrated on plants and fruits, it affects field infrastructures as well.
One of the producers who experienced the problem firsthand is José Vicente Andreu, president of Asaja Alicante, which owns an almond and citrus farm in Torremendo next to the Pedrera reservoir, which is frequented by wild boars. in your case, The damage is focused on the drip irrigation network, which has already had to be replaced twice due to animal bites.. “Assuming it’s 12 hectares, I’ve already had to spend more than 10,000 euros to replace the tyres. I also hung new ones on trees to prevent new incidents, but they are not very suitable for irrigation and they are not completely safe,” he emphasizes.
And this is just one example of what happened at Vega Baja, because as Andreu points out, In the La Murada region, wild boars are also accustomed to eating tangerines on the lower branches.. “This is – unfortunately – a serious problem, because there is no help and the only way to deal with it is hunting raids, which also requires the involvement of specialists specializing in big game. However, no matter how much is done in this regard, we see that the population of such animals is increasing rapidly and it is very difficult to reduce it.
Another of the crops that suffer from pressure, in this case rabbits, are table grapes.. This is acknowledged by Pepe Bernabéu, head of the Vinalopó Protected Definition of Origin, who pointed out that significant damage has been recorded for some time in towns such as Monforte or Agost. He emphasizes that the problem is what he calls the abandoned fields that serve as shelter for these animals, “which encourages them to roam freely and forage in vine shoots and fruit.” .
A reality shared by Pedro Rubira, the grape producer bagged in Novelda, losses in certain areas can reach 25% of production. “Insurance – he explains – only covers the damage if it exceeds 20% in the global harvest, and we find that the problem is very difficult to overcome because, despite the actions of hunters, the current breeds of rabbits are due to crossbreeding of different breeds. They reproduce with tremendous ease”.
Cereals are also of interest to wildlife. In this case, in addition to rabbits, wild boars, mountain goats, herring sheep and wild sheep are the ones that cause havoc, especially in the most mountainous regions such as l’Alcoià and El Comtat. Ricardo Ferri, a producer from Alcoy, points out that the absence of natural predators is exacerbated by the artificial introduction of such game species. «A few years ago, hunting reserves came into fashion and were abandoned over time, causing the animals to escape.. “Now we see them roaming freely both in the mountains and in our fields and have become a veritable plague despite the raids,” he says.
The result is severe damage to both wheat and barley fields, and above all sunflowers, to the point where cultivation ceases in some areas. According to Ferri, “Insurance is very limited and we can’t get any benefits for these damages, so everything is unsuitable to be able to engage in agricultural activity.”
hunters
Hunters come to the rescue whenever farmers report such problems, but at the same time they feel abandoned by the Administration, which they accuse of not encouraging activity and having an ideological bias in their approach. This is expressed by Oscar Corbí, representative of the Hunting Federation in Alicante, and focuses above all on the sharp increase in the wild boar population; cause of accidents on intercity roads. In his words, “the hunters are reaching the limit. More and more are being asked of us, but no incentive is offered to alleviate the situation.. The government needs to put aside ideological concerns and take a stand for hunting.
So at least some of these demands will be met, as regional Agriculture Minister Roger Llanes has pointed out. created a budget item aimed precisely at subsidizing hunters. “Our intention – he points out – is to promote directed plans to reduce the density of certain species by collaborating financially with predators. What is now missing is to shape this initiative and we are working on it ».
Llanes does not exclude the possibility of providing compensation to farmers, as is the case with farmers in certain circumstances. In any case, he stresses that “population control” is the priority right now. First, let’s see if incentives for hunters have the desired effect.
Bee-eater and Asian hornet threaten hives
Not only agriculture is affected by the attack of wildlife. As a result of the attacks of bee-eaters, beehives also suffer losses. It is a motley-colored bird that lives in Europe as well as Africa and Asia. It makes its nests in the sandy levees of the valleys, where it lays four to ten eggs. Worst of all, it swarms and congregates in flocks of dozens of individuals. The problem for beekeepers is that it preys on insects, mostly bees, but also wasps, wasps, dragonflies, butterflies and horseflies, which it catches instantly around the nesting area for food. The impact on hives is erratic, depending on whether they are in the transition area or the nesting area.
The Asian wasp, on the other hand, colonizes various parts of the Iberian Peninsula and is an extremely voracious insect that comes to materially destroy the hives. It has not been detected in the province at the moment, but beekeepers are demanding preventive measures that allow for immediate action should it occur. All this in an environment where the industry is not exactly at its best due to strong competition from third-country honey and rising costs.
Source: Informacion
James Sean is a writer for “Social Bites”. He covers a wide range of topics, bringing the latest news and developments to his readers. With a keen sense of what’s important and a passion for writing, James delivers unique and insightful articles that keep his readers informed and engaged.