Xylella and extreme weather hit Alicante almond crops hard this year
What has unfolded in Alicante’s agriculture this year is unprecedented. Almost no crop has escaped the punishing weather, a consequence many experts attribute to a clear shift in climate. Almond trees, however, tell a particular story: their leaves curl instead of thriving, even with rains and frosts. Production plunged by roughly 60%, translating into losses of about 10 million euros as pests feed on the trees. Xylella, wasps, and tiger beetles have caused severe damage, and the Vall d’Ebo fire added its own toll to the plantations this season.
Xylella fastidiosa has progressed for years. Detected in the province for the first time in 2017, there is still no effective cure. The crackdown has involved removing more than 2,000 hectares of crops and 140,000 almond trees, cutting production by 560 tons. The Ministry of Agriculture insists that actions follow European Union mandates and that the affected radius has been halved due to pressure. Yet those affected continue to request a containment plan that focuses on destroying infected trees rather than removing surrounding vegetation [Citation: EU agricultural policy and local reports].
Besides Xylella, wasps and tiger beetles also press hard on almond yields this season. Local producers report that high temperatures, as observed by Juan Pastor, a grower in the Vinalopó area, worsen the situation, and drought compounds the risk to tree survival. The pests, together with rising costs for phytosanitary products and lower almond prices, push farmers to reduce care or abandon fields altogether. One technician from Castalla notes that while the tiger beetle is easier to combat, the wasp resists longer, requiring timely treatments. When costs rise and prices fail to cover them, field maintenance suffers and abandoned plots become havens for pests [Citation: regional agricultural consulting reports].
In Castalla and nearby towns such as Ibi, Tibi, Biar, and Villena, spring frost struck early, destroying nearly 80% of the harvest. Prolonged rains during that period disrupted blooming in Marina Alta, l’Alcoià, and El Comtat. The Vall d’Ebo fire later added to the sum of agricultural losses this summer [Citation: local weather and fire incident reports].
Francisco Javier Molines, a representative of Asaja for the industry and mayor of Tárbena, laments the long list of hurdles facing the sector. He notes pests, weather fluctuations, and prices that fail to cover costs. The result is a dwindling interest in farming and increasing abandonment of fields, a trend echoed by many producers [Citation: regional farmers’ association statements].
Xylella’s impact in numbers: 560 tonnes fewer almonds
Similarly, Ricardo Beltrán, head of dry fruits at La Unió, highlights the crop’s low profitability this season. He points to a producer price that remains below last year’s, suggesting heavy market speculation within the food chain [Citation: industry association commentary].
Beltrán urges direct support of about 125 euros per hectare, arguing that this would restore aid previously provided under the CAP to farmers in traditional farming districts. He also stresses that agricultural insurance should be tailored to almond-specific risks and production patterns to better reflect their realities [Citation: association policy recommendations].