Spain: Pest threatens the survival of the Sa Pobla potato

Potato  cultivation  could be coming to an end in Sa Pobla. A nematode infestation in potatoes is forcing farmers to consider abandoning their land, after having made large investments. The nematodes prevent the potatoes from growing sufficiently, even though they grow healthy. While the potatoes that do grow are good, they are smaller, resulting in  low production  and are unprofitable.

Farmers are demanding that the relevant authorities exceptionally authorize the use of dichloropropene or sodium metabisulfite to control nematodes in  potato crops  or other crops that would truly help them overcome this emergency situation, which, they explain, will worsen. Although land analysis is planned and exceptional authorization for farmers’ use of vapam is granted, they already anticipate that this measure will not be sufficient. "We know it won’t be enough, but our opinion counts for nothing." They do not feel represented by agricultural unions or politicians. Their situation, they explain, is one of abandonment and exclusion, having no voice. They feel exploited. They say "enough" to commercial brands using them to test phytosanitary products. They are not in a position to conduct tests or advance expenses, because they are already at a disadvantage.

In fact, they speak from a tightrope, with harvests that are causing significant production losses in the Sa Pobla area. "This is ruin," they say. The products authorized by European regulations "don’t work for us and we have to pay a lot more for them," they assert. The small potatoes that grew poorly due to the potato plant being affected by nematodes are visible. The potatoes are much smaller than those that are not affected. "If before we harvested 130 tons from one area, now we harvest 16 tons," they state.

Alarming situation

The situation, seen from the perspective of those who work the land day after day, is alarming. Added to this is the fact that they don’t know how much they’ll be paid for the potatoes after they’re delivered to the warehouse until well into summer. They’re working financially blind. They take their potatoes to the warehouse without knowing how much they’ll be paid months later. Meanwhile, they pay for electricity, water, diesel, phytosanitary products, and the maintenance of their agricultural machinery. This situation not only puts various farming families at risk, but also the image projected about the potatoes from the town. They lament the abuse of the potato image, the claim that exports are going well, when in reality, that’s not the case. "We’re not doing well." The municipality will soon hold a potato fair: "They should change the name of the Potato Fair. It’s not the potato fair. This isn’t a celebration. It’s the end of the potato." They demand that the bureaucracy be streamlined. Another obstacle they encounter is when it comes to completing paperwork. Being a  SAT  (Tax Administration Service), they have to bear the expense of going through an agency to register their paperwork and cannot do so using the free service offered by the local Ministry of Agriculture, as other farmers do. Their indignation, between one thing and another, is extreme. 

Thus, European regulations on phytosanitary products, a focus of attention for farmers in Sa Pobla, have become the center of controversy over the devastating nematode plague ravaging their fields. Farmers complain that the restrictions imposed by this legislation prevent them from accessing more effective phytosanitary products to combat this persistent agricultural threat. The direct consequence, as they report with anguish, is a drastic drop in potato production, the economic engine and hallmark of this Mallorcan town. 

The virulence of the nematode pest has reached unprecedented levels, surpassing the capacity of treatments authorized by European regulations. Farmers explain that, while nematodes have always been present in the soil (apparently introduced years ago through a European seed), their current proliferation, coupled with the ineffectiveness of authorized products, has generated a crisis of expected catastrophic proportions. The difference between harvests of yesteryear and those of today is abysmal, a silent testament to this battle against an invisible but lethal enemy for their crops and their future. An enemy that joins other open fronts leaves farmers in a vulnerable situation. "Before, we could make a living from potatoes. Now, with all the expenses and such low yields, it’s not possible," they assert. 

The request for exceptional authorization for the use of dichloropropene or metansodium is not a whim, but a desperate cry for their survival. The planned measure of testing the land and the planned authorized quantities of Vapam will not be enough, they assert. Farmers argue that these products, although subject to restrictions, have historically proven effective in controlling nematodes and could offer a crucial respite to save yields and allow for long-term land recovery. Otherwise, they are considering not planting anything next year. Crop rotation is also not worth it. Their insistence on the urgency of the measure reflects the awareness that every day that passes without an effective solution brings many of them closer to the dreaded abandonment of their farms.

The feeling of helplessness expressed by the farmers of Sa Pobla reflects the profound disconnect they perceive between their reality and the decisions made in the offices. Their demand to be heard and taken into account underscores the need for more fluid communication and a deeper understanding of the specific challenges faced by different agricultural regions within the European regulatory framework. 

The refusal of commercial brands to participate in plant protection product trials is a testament to the extreme economic fragility they face. For these farmers, every euro counts, and every risk taken without any guarantee of success could be the final straw that leads to ruin. Their priority now is not to experiment, but to find proven and effective long-term solutions for their crops and ensure the viability of their farms.

Regarding concerns about the image of the Sa Pobla potato, farmers are the first to be interested in maintaining the reputation of a product that means so much to their locality and are open to using products that are environmentally friendly, yet work and aren’t twice as expensive. They warn that the crisis they are experiencing inevitably needs to be addressed urgently. They want to draw attention to a problem that threatens to undermine the foundations of a historic agricultural tradition. "If they don’t want us to grow crops, they should open up a grant and appoint us as caretakers of the landscape. The government should create a plan so that farmers who have been farming for at least five years are offered grants per hectare to help them care for the landscape."