The national president of Asaja, Pedro Barato, asked for direct aid from the autonomous communities, “which are going scot-free”, and from the central government for farmers affected by the frosts in early April and a new model of agricultural insurance because “you cannot put the fox to take care of the chickens” and it is necessary to strengthen the powers of the State Agricultural Insurance Entity (Enesa).
In reference to Agroseguro, Barato criticized that “it cannot be that it does what it wants” and the 30% franchises, which it described as “aberration”, since demanded that the coverage be expanded and that the communities subsidize their part, implement insurance against major catastrophes and the obligation for surfaces under the umbrella of the CAP to have agricultural insurance.
Barato appeared in Zaragoza at a press conference together with representatives of the Ebro Valley associations (Aragón, Navarra, La Rioja and Lérida) to report on the balance of damage caused by the latest frosts in this territory, which Agroseguro estimates at 150 million euros and that it does not take into account what is not contractable, “which is also a lot” according to Barato.
In Catalonia Asaja estimates that the losses caused by these frosts exceed 600 million euros and similar figures in Aragon, since there have been conditions in 30,000 hectares of fruit trees, that are insured, and in more than 70,000 of almond trees without insured, so the 40 million that Agroseguro provides will be exceeded.
With data from Monday, according to Barato, in Huesca the entire area of fruit trees is affected, more so in La Literra, Cinca Medio and Bajo Cinca and in apricot, nectarine and peach and Paraguayan productions, which exceed 65%; while in Zaragoza that 65% is exceeded with the regions of Calatayud and La Almunia as the most affected, with stone and pip fruit and almond trees being the most damaged crops. In Teruel, meanwhile, damage is expected to reach 75% in some regions.
In Catalonia, the damage is concentrated in the province of Lérida and in almost all of the 55,000 hectares of fresh fruit and nuts. In peach, nectarine and Paraguayan peaches, 100% damage is reached for a total of 19,000 hectares, and in pear and apple the damage is expected to exceed 65% of 15,000 hectares of production.
In Navarra and La Rioja there was some damage to the vineyard, although it will not be seen “because it is premature”.
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