Madrid, Jan 14 - A leading Spanish farmers' union said on Thursday that recent heavy rainfall had helped more than hindered the winter grain crop, but had delayed olive picking in the world's largest olive oil producer.
Planting of winter wheat and barley got under way in most of Spain in December after delays due to a drought which ended in November, and green shoots are now very visible over large parts of the northern Castilla-Leon grainbelt.
The Asaja union estimated flood damage was limited to parts of southerly Andalusia, which altogether accounted for about 20 percent of a total wheat crop of 4.8 million tonnes in 2009. "The effects of the weather on cereals have been beneficial in general, other than in areas where the ground has been flooded and plantings completely lost," an Asaja statement said.
Farmers estimate they have planted about 5 percent less land to grain than last year, but that good weather in the rest of the campaign could easily boost output after a failed harvest in 2009.
OLIVE CAMPAIGN DELAYED
Asaja added that rains had delayed the olive oil campaign and that 70 percent of a crop of 5.5-6 million tonnes had yet to be picked.
"A lot of fruit has fallen in all producing areas. Nonetheless, the percentage of olives which will remain unpicked and quality problems will depend on how many days of rain are left," Asaja said.
Spain produced 1.03 million tonnes of olive oil in the campaign which ended last November, and most olives are normally pressed in December, January and February.
The rains had also damaged production of winter horticultural produce, much of which is exported to northern Europe. Frost damage in Spain last year was cited in Britain as a cause of an unexpected spike in consumer inflation.
Asaja estimated damage at between 60 and 100 percent of artichokes, lettuce, cauliflower and courgettes in southeasterly Murcia, known as "the orchard of Spain".
The union said a lot of damage to crops and infrastructure was due to dams opening flood gates. Spain's national grid operator said that hydropower output has risen for the same reason.
"We call on the authorities to improve water management, by cleaning and maintaining drains as well as building new dams," Asaja said.
It estimated that in Andalusia alone, 2,200 cubic hectometres of water had been allowed to flow into the sea, or enough to irrigate all the region's crops for two years.
"This is a scandal Andalusia cannot afford," it said. "In a region like ours, where one can never tell when it will rain again, storing as much water as possible is essential."