7 hours ago“This year, zero production” Wasps hit farmers and their crops
Periskopi(a year ago)
(a year ago)From his 15-hectar vineyards in Rahovec, he expected to extract about 100 thousand pounds of grapes. But after three frosty nights, Habib Dina now awaits “zero production”. “The temperature has fallen below zero degrees, means, to minus three degrees. This has damaged the vines ' buds. There's no production there anymore. For this year, zero [...]
“This has damaged the vines ' buds. There's no production there anymore. For this year, zero production we have”, Dina says about Radio Free Europe, broadcast Periscope.
Dina from the Association of Worms “Towelvers of grapes” says he has suffered damage worth five to six thousand euros per hectare.
From April 6th, for three consecutive nights, temperatures to minus 5 degrees Celsius declined in different areas of Kosovo.
Since the month of March was relatively warm, numerous species of trees and vegetables had blossomed and their buds had developed. But early April frost seriously damaged these agricultural cultures.
In Rahovec, where more than 70 percent of the 3,200 acres [3,000 ha] of vineyards in Kosovo are found, frosts will also afflict the processors and grapes.
It's not just grapes anymore, it's the chain. Someone produces wine, someone deals with agriturism, someone sells alcohol to increase the value [of], someone sells grape juices”, Dina points out.
He adds that there are about five thousand families in Kosovo, which depend on the chain of producing, processing and selling grapes and its byproducts.
Farmers, Less vegetable growers
Majid Kabashi, who runs the family business for wine and brandy production, “Calaya Dafina”, says that this year he had planted only a hectare of grapes for family needs. But for its productivity, he buys raw materials from local farmers.
According to him, the damage caused by low temperatures in vineyards will make productivity extremely difficult.
The “for me will be [injured] about 40 or 50,000 euros, as a small, family producer. It's going to be huge, because I'm out of those revenue products, I sell and I live”, Kabashi says.
The Rahovec municipal authorities have already begun to assess the damage to the vineyards of this municipality.
Berat Duraku, from the Rahoveci Commission's Directorate for Agriculture, tells Radio Free Europe that competent municipal authorities have established a joint commission with the Department for Killer and Summers of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, which will do the damage assessment.
It's not the same percentage of damage in each variety and in each grower. Mainly more hit are early growers, such as the grapes, which range as much as 90 percent [in damages], while in certain positions 100 percent. In grapes for industry, I believe that the percentage is a little lower, but there's also damage that are huge, say Duraku.
He adds that after the final assessment, about a week later, the damage assessment commission will come up with a report, and municipal authorities will address the Ministry of Agriculture to review the eventual compensation opportunities for damaged farmers.
As for vegetables, he says municipal authorities have instructed farmers as to how to protect agricultural cultures two days before freezings began.
Muharrem Hoti of the Great Krusha of the Rahovec municipality, in 20 greenhouse gold, cultivates pepper seedlings and tomatoes. He and his family have improvised conditions in greenhouses to prevent damage to agricultural products.
We've been protecting all night, we've been smart. We've bought a protective nest, but we've also lit fire in greenhouses, inside, to protect the seedlings from frost. There's been little damage, but we've saved most of them”, says Hoti.
However, he points out that potatoes planted in the rest of his land have been damaged by up to 50 percent.
Harm in the Treeman
Low temperatures have also been marked in other areas of Kosovo, where various cultures of trees and vegetables have been damaged.
Naim Huruglica cultivates earlier trees, such as cherry trees, pears and apples, on 12 hectares in the village of Zajcec in Kamenica.
According to him, temperatures on January 6th and 7th in this village have dropped to minus 6 degrees Celsius.
The queens and summer dates, which were in the opening phase, have remained damaged, he says.
Although we have not yet made accurate assessments, it is estimated that the damage could be 100 percent. It means, there is nothing remaining”, says Huruglica, who adds that financial damage is significant as well.
The “in three hectares, according to last year's [production] assessment, are at least 30 to 40 thousand euros in damages. When you're totally lost in agriculture for a year, it's very difficult to stay in the <x1 industry, he points out.
Partial injuries have also suffered, as he puts it, apples that he cultivates on about nine acres [9 ha].
Similar damage in the tree sector has occurred in all regions hit by low temperatures in Kosovo.
Vahid Avdiu, professor at the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary at the University of Pristina, says that “we have had combinations of two cold air measures, which have been almost fatal to the destructive part of the” trees.
Based on information from trees, but also on observations given to flowers and tree buds in certain areas of the country, Avdiu points out that enormous damage is expected, especially on core trees, such as cherry trees, blankets, plumes, and peaches, as well as those with seeds, such as pears, apples, and others.
The production will be minimal, based on what is being seen. Even that emerging crop will have consequences because of frost, even if it saves something, it causes fruit abnormalities. This year will likely be problematic for treesmen”, Avdiu points out.
Free Europe Radio has been directed to officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, to understand the measures that will be taken after the damage done to farmers of agricultural cultures damaged by frost. Until the publication of this article, this ministry did not respond.
Will trees and vegetables be expensive?
Temperatures up to minus six degrees Celsius are fatal for most agricultural cultures, the tree sector and the vinedressing sector, says Hartim Gashi, director of the Kosovo Tree and Permit Processors Association ( PepeCo).
The damage to these agricultural cultures, he says, causes the chain effect of damage in their processing industries as well.
The moment we lack these products from local producers, then mainly we'll be dependent on import. Any dependence on import, then it will affect price hikes”, Gashi says.
Establishing prices of products from vineyards, trees and vegetables, according to Gashi, will influence the processing industry of these agricultural cultures to be uncompetitive on the local market and abroad.
The price raising of agricultural products also awaits Professor Avdiu. He adds that the region will also have problems supplying products from certain agricultural cultures, as well as increasing market demand.
“is nevertheless expected to affect [the price], because with these [low] temperatures not only Kosovo has been hit, but also countries in the region, but also the West”, Avdiu points out.
But, given that not all Kosovo regions have been affected by low temperatures of minus six degrees Celsius, at the Kosovo Association of Tree Processors and Persitors hope that little, even the effect of the damage will not be fatal and comprehensive.
In recent years in Kosovo, there have been constant complaints of rising food products prices. Kosovo Statistics Agency data shows that, during February, the price of trees and vegetables has been expensive for 5.5 percent, compared to the same period last year.
According to the AKS, all agricultural products last year were for 46.8 per cent more expensive compared to 2020. /Periscopi/
