Spain: Heavy rains delay potato planting and threaten cereal crops in A Limia

The weather that hit the province during Holy Week also took its toll on the harvests in the  A Limia region .

Flooding in the area where Lagoa de Antela once lay is becoming increasingly frequent. Although the water is expected to cover the farms, the abundance and seasonality of rainfall is affecting production.

At the end of January, floods already affected winter cereals, which had already been sown late due to late-autumn rains. Although this cereal is not sown on the plains, the snowfall in the mountains will affect these highlands.

Since early spring, the Lagoa fields have been prepared for planting both cereals and potatoes. Some farmers had already begun planting cereals, which will suffer greatly from the damp soil.

Those who have not yet started will have to wait at least another ten days, after the rains stop, to access these farms, which will require preparation before they can be cultivated, further delaying planting.

A Limia’s star crop is also affected by heavy rains, which disrupt the necessary time for optimal yields. Although potatoes could be planted until mid- or late May to maintain their proper development, if the rains continue, planting will begin to be delayed.

This situation has been repeated repeatedly in recent years, affecting the stability of harvests. Farmers emphasize that weather is always taken into account, but the problem lies in the seasonal shift the region has undergone. It has gone from having four well-defined seasons to two: wet and dry.

The geography of the territory has a negative impact on this situation, not only because of its flat nature, but also because of the  geomorphology of the terrain.

Palliative measures

Various measures are being proposed by those affected to alleviate this situation, as the complexities of circumstances have no definitive solution. One of the points on which both farmers and municipalities agree is the cleaning and maintenance of the canals.

If they were in optimal condition, they would help flooded farms drain more quickly. This problem would also be a temporary problem when rainfall is heavy, rather than a recurring situation as it is today.

On February 19 of this year, the Director General of Rural Development, Paz Rodríguez, met with the mayors of the region to promote the project to clean these canals and improve water use in A Limia.

These canals belong to various entities, both private and public, and affect the region’s ecosystems, which are guaranteed environmental protection.