The September Storms Save Vineyards and Almond Trees in Northern Alicante Regions

The year 2024 has been extremely challenging for agriculture. The relentless drought affecting the province's crops, likely making it one of the driest hydrological years in history, is complicating the survival of traditional crops.

Some of these are dryland crops, such as grapes and almonds, which are so characteristic of Alicante and are heading towards extinction. In fact, the harvests have suffered tremendous losses, with dryland crop losses amounting to up to 22 million euros, according to La Unió Llauradora.

The situation is truly critical, so it is not surprising that these late September storms have been welcomed by farmers. The Young Farmers' Agricultural Association (Asaja) of Alicante assures that they "have been very beneficial."

The significant rainfall in areas like El Comtat, where more than 150 liters per square meter fell in two days, has allowed the land to be watered and temporarily quenched its thirst. The downpours have been particularly strong in the northern regions, where there are numerous dryland crops.

Asaja President José Vicente Andreu explained that these rains "have saved the dryland crops like vineyards and almond trees, which were in a critical situation." However, it has come too late for the harvests.

"It arrives too late to save harvests like Teulada's dryland grapes, which have been very poor," Andreu said, emphasizing that "it will save the vines and vineyards, which is very important, even though the harvests won't be saved."

The precipitation has not only been good news for the northern regions but also for other areas of the province where it rained, albeit in smaller amounts. Even so, "it is magnificent news," said the farmer, who affirmed that "for winter vegetables, some already planted, a watering from rain is excellent."

One of the main drawbacks of the recent rains has been their inequality. "The rains have been very irregular," Andreu criticized, noting that in some municipalities "60 liters fall while in the neighboring one little or nothing."

The rains allow Alicante's agricultural sector to breathe slightly for the coming months. With some more rain expected, it will not be enough to quench the crops' thirst, especially in the south where the situation is "very critical."

"We face autumn with great uncertainty," admits Andreu, who just a few days ago met with the Minister of Agriculture to request "support" for Alicante's agriculture, which is going through a long slump.

Especially in the Vega Baja area, in the Segura basin, where the irrigation situation is "even more critical," insists Asaja's president, who reveals that they already have restrictions of more than 50%, making crop conditions very complicated.