If the year 2022 is remembered for one thing, it was the ripple effect of the Ukraine war: it pushed up prices and lifted production costs across the sector, especially fertilizers and energy. The 2023 fiscal year faced a double drought, a pattern that many in the agricultural community warned would persist. According to Asaja Alicante, droughts became more frequent, driven by climate patterns and interruptions in water transfers that tightened irrigation options. In practice, this meant tighter crops and unusual shortages such as melons and watermelons appearing scarce in supermarkets last summer. If reduced water flows from reservoirs like Castile-Manchego persist and climate change continues, this trend could become a persistent reality.
That warning came from José Vicente Andreu, president of Asaja Alicante, during a presentation of the agricultural balance prepared by the organization. He highlighted the critical strain on products such as cherries, grains, honey, and almonds, urging a fundamental shift in strategy to combat Xylella fastidiosa and avert the loss of thousands of trees.
Andreu stressed that climate change would be a lasting trend in the years ahead. He noted that Segura reservoirs were at only 19.21 percent capacity — the lowest in a decade — and warned that interruptions in water transfer must be halted to secure the region’s future. He remained cautiously optimistic, saying the game is never lost. While expressing objections to the Supreme Court, he supported the Madrid Community’s stance on resource transfers, describing it as very positive for the region.
Andreu did not hesitate to connect last summer’s melon shortage to producers planting less land in response to uncertain water supplies. The same logic applied to the artichoke crop, with about 10% less land expected to be planted for the next season, a move that could cut harvests by around 25% due to weather. He warned this could become the norm if water transfers are not secured.
Crops
Beyond transfer policies, the organization highlighted drought-driven losses across several crops. Cereals suffered up to 90% harvest loss in l’Alcoià and nearly 100% in Castalla and Onil, according to Ramón Espinosa, the technical secretary. The upcoming season looked grim as farmers delayed planting, waiting for rain that never fully arrived, resulting in delayed sowing and drier soils.
Abnormally warm conditions in November also hampered planting of grain in Alicante province, exacerbating the crunch.
Cherry production, in particular, has faced four consecutive years of near-total decline, forcing many parcels to be abandoned. This year’s yield was about 600,000 kilos, far below the potential of more than eight million. Espinosa and the association proposed a three-part plan: direct aid of 3,000 euros for farms under two hectares, 4,000 euros for farms of two to four hectares, and 850 euros per hectare for larger operations; refinancing options similar to those used by the ceramics sector; and a redesigned agricultural insurance approach to reflect recent disasters and rising premiums.
Regarding lemons, the sector argued that prices often fall below production costs due to non-compliance with the Food Chain Law, urging authorities to intervene.
Andreu also pressed for a strategic shift from the new regional leadership toward more effective action against Xylella fastidiosa, which threatens almond trees. The warning was stark: if the bacteria spread is not checked, thousands of trees could be destroyed. A new plan, he argued, is essential to safeguard mountain communities that depend on these crops.
Less livestock farming
The drought’s impact extended to livestock, where pasture scarcity created a challenging environment for sheep and goats. Alicante is among the leading goat-milk producers, underscoring the stakes for dairy farming during dry seasons.
Beekeeping also faced a stress test: drought and pests cut honey production by as much as 60%, while bee colonies within the province declined by up to 40%. The beekeeping sector reported that the long-standing pinyolà regulation prompted many hives to move away from citrus fields, a policy Andreu wants revised to better support pollination and crop health.
Finally, the wine sector reported progress in marketing Alicante wines, with exports rising and the share of total sales improving. Yet the drought’s toll persisted, cutting last year’s harvest from 26 million kilos to 18.5 million kilos, and competing land use with solar projects continued to squeeze farming footprints. The president emphasized that agriculture remains a cornerstone of the province and national exports, highlighting crops like Vinalopó and Mollar grapes, along with pomegranate, loquat, citrus, and olive production as bright spots.
Andreu called for reforms to the agricultural insurance system, Agroseguro, to reflect climate realities. He pointed to rising claims payouts across Spain, which in turn push premiums higher and shrink coverage. This makes some farmers reluctant to insure, threatening long-term farm sustainability.