In the midst of a storm that has hit the central-southern region of Chile hard, the regional manager of Wiseconn for Latin America and member of the board of directors of the Irrigation and Drainage Association (Agryd), Tomás Vicente, warns about the effects that the rainfall has had on the country's agriculture. In particular, the affected regions have recorded intense rainfall exceeding 20mm in one hour, which has triggered the activation of ravines, estuaries and soil saturation. This climatic phenomenon, different from that experienced in previous months, has had a negative impact on the Chilean valleys.
The president has also announced measures to alleviate the damage caused by this climatic phenomenon, which has been well received by the agricultural sector. However, Vicente stresses that, "it is important to consider not only the small INDAP producers, but also the fruit exporting producers, whose industry has been severely hit in the last two years by various problems, such as cost overruns, logistical difficulties and poor production results."
The Maule and O'Higgins areas, which are under the emergency decree, have been the most affected by the frontal system that has hit the country. The Minister of Agriculture has reported that the situation is especially critical in Maule, where significant agricultural damage has been recorded due to heavy rains. Among the most affected crops are onions, carrots, broad beans, watermelons, cherries, raspberries and fodder.
Farmers in the region are calling for urgent measures to mitigate the damage and ensure the security of agricultural exports, which are vital to the country's economy. Authorities are working in coordination with the affected sectors to implement strategies to minimize the negative effects of this exceptional weather phenomenon and safeguard agricultural production in the immediate future.
