ASAJA Alicante has voiced deep concern about citrus growers in the province facing imported pests from non EU countries that are advancing in lemons, oranges, and grapefruits. This trend is expected to set the course for the current campaign. The agricultural association emphasizes that the issue stems from a perceived lack of firmness from the European Union toward third countries. Farmers say they are tired of competing with imports while borders remain porous to pests that threaten harvests. In June, July, and August, South African citrus shipments reported 20 incidences of black spot disease in their first three months of export, a troubling statistic for the sector. Note this is seen as a warning sign by citrus exporters and the broader farming community. [Source: ASAJA Alicante]
In this context, the association warns that Scirtothrips aurantii, commonly known as the South Africa thrips, is severely harming Alicante lemons, which are currently in the development stage. The European Union is described as not fully aware of the severity, prompting ASAJA Alicante to demand decisive actions at the borders and an immediate halt to imports of South African citrus. If unchecked, the organization says the situation could spiral out of control. The spread of Scirtothrips aurantii is described as a grave threat not only to farmers’ profitability but also to food security across the broader Mediterranean basin. [Source: ASAJA Alicante]
Last July, the Department of Agriculture launched urgent measures to eradicate and control the pest, including demarcating zones where the pest is present. ASAJA argues that such measures make little sense while contaminated citrus continues to enter. They also contend that perimeter controls would be ineffective, given the thrips have already expanded widely and no authorized product currently offers reliable control. [Source: ASAJA Alicante]
ASAJA Alicante therefore calls on Miguel Barrachina and his team to intercede with the Spanish Government and the European Union to initiate an urgent investigation into natural predators that could reduce the pest population, while pressing these authorities to close entry ports to South African citrus. [Source: ASAJA Alicante]
Regarding the economic impact on farmers, ASAJA Alicante’s president notes that the Verna lemon crop has suffered a substantial loss, around forty percent, due to the red spider mite, another South African pest. [Source: ASAJA Alicante]
Further, the association laments the significant damage caused by the thrips not only to citrus but also to emblematic crops in the province such as grapevines and pomegranates. The discussion highlights a broader concern about pest vectors affecting multiple important regional crops. [Source: ASAJA Alicante]
On the subject of Huanglongbing disease and reports of its presence in Tucumán, Argentina, ASAJA Alicante warns that without swift action, the disease could reach the territory, given ongoing tolerance of the situation by national and European authorities. The organization urges the interprofessional lemon body to commission a countrywide report on the disease to assess transmission speed and to prompt the EU to rethink trade agreements like Mercosur, which could impact Spanish farmers. [Source: ASAJA Alicante]
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