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ARCHIVED - Andalucia extends ban on agricultural burning as fire risk increases
The threat of fire and the worsening drought is putting Malaga farms in jeopardy
With another scorching week ahead in Andalucía there will be little respite for the emergency services, as virtually no rain on the horizon has escalated the risk of wildfires once again. As a result, the Ministry of the Environment has decided to extend the ban on agricultural burning for another 15 days.
Between now and April 21, farmers won’t be allowed to burn scrub, pastures or forestry waste or carry out any phytosanitary treatments on their land, and fires of any kind are strictly prohibited within the Forest Influence Zone, which is all agricultural land located less than 400 metres from classified forest areas.
The Earth’s core temperature is rising at an alarming rate thanks to climate change and in Spain, this has resulted in the wildfire season kicking off more than a month early. This week, the forest fire risk has been escalated to a medium level in Andalucía and the Ministry has promised that an additional 2,000 members of the Infoca Plan will be deployed to monitor the situation, on top of the 2,500 troops already operating throughout the region.
The constant threat of fire isn’t the only thing worrying farmers, however, and in Malaga in particular, the extended dry spell has dried up the reservoirs, leaving very little water to irrigate crops.
According to Baldomero Bellido, president of the Association of Young Farmers (Asaja) in Malaga, this year there is hardly any produce to harvest and valuable vegetables and fruits like mango, avocado and olives are either not ready or, in many cases, haven’t been planted at all.
There are currently only 22 cubic hectometres in Malaga’s reservoirs compared to 317 this time last year and the province is on the cusp of declaring a drought decree, which will mean more water restrictions but could offer farmers some much-needed relief.
Once the alarm is raised, the president of Asaja explained, the regional government must implement a system of aid for agricultural workers, most of whom can’t afford to hire any farm labourers this harvest season.
A Water Management Committee is expected to convene in the coming days to analyse the drought situation with the farmers and to make a plan for the coming months, but the Minister of Agriculture believes that a drought decree will go ahead before the end of the month.
Image: Infoca
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