Argentina - Rainfall took the 60% of the tomato crop
The heavy rainstorms that hit the East Valley region caused heavy losses in the productive sector.
From the Avellaneda Chamber of Producers released a comprehensive report signed by its chairman, Roberto Iriroy, which mentions that "the region has been affected in recent days due the rains which have exceeded the carrying capacity of the soil. It is under a rainfall exceeding the annual average of 275 mm per year and this has led to the affected production of the region. The date of the rainfall reached over the past seven days are close to 210 mm.
It was added that "the Chamber has made visits to various establishments and has confirmed that the harvest has risks in different products.
In the specific case of tomato production is mentioned that "the crops of the region are in advanced stages of harvest, assuming completion of the cycle of market growth. This makes that the water founded in the grooves affect significantly its quality. " Specifically, it found that "the diseases that develop from the moisture and low temperatures prevailing in the early hours of the morning will cause greater losses more than 60% of the quality and yields expected by the producer."
In this sense clarified "the establishments visited are over health risk, flooded by water and this leads that the production can not be collected.
Fruit and pastures affected
In the case of pome and stone fruit, rain intensity and occasional hail fall make that the products lose market value. At this level, it said they are "unable to access the lots that already have harvest date and this makes that maturing and pressure of it going in advance."
Meanwhile, in the case of commercial pasture production was noted that: "producers that at this time are producing associated pastures or pure alfalfa for the sale of conventional bales, rolls, or prismatic bales for export, have been affected by high rainfall and heavy rains which have led the producers not to develop the cultural tasks of collecting, cutting and aestivating thereof.
Iriroy promptly mentioned that "it has seen several lots that have their roots low water and it makes that the quality of them deteriorates, causing considerable commercial damage".
 
www.freshplaza.es - 23 February 2010