The Argentine parrot destroys almonds and hazelnuts in the Camp de Tarragona: what response is there?

The Argentine parrot is causing great damage to the tree nuts in the Camp de Tarragona. This bird breaks the shell of the almond and hazelnut to eat the kernel, causing significant losses in the harvest and the income of local farmers.

Unió de Pagesos calls on the Department of Territory for an immediate and effective action to control this invasive species, which puts at risk a key sector of the Tarragona agricultural economy.

The problem of damage caused by the Argentine parrot to tree nuts

Why does the Argentine parrot cause problems to the crops in the Camp de Tarragona?

The Argentine parrot breaks the shells of almonds and hazelnuts to access the kernel, causing a significant part of the production to be damaged. This translates into a direct reduction in yields and, therefore, in farmers' income.

How does this specifically affect the farmers in the area?

The farmers are the ones who bear the economic losses without receiving compensation or sufficient aid. This endangers the viability of many agricultural holdings dedicated to tree nuts.

What measures does Unió de Pagesos call for and what response is expected?

What actions does the union demand from the Department of Territory?

Unió de Pagesos demands urgent and effective action from the administrations: strengthening the control mechanisms of the Argentine parrot and establishing rapid intervention protocols to prevent the damages from increasing.

How important is a quick response for the local agricultural sector?

Stopping the expansion of the damage now will prevent the problem from becoming unsustainable. If not controlled, the sector could suffer severe deterioration in the coming years, with notable economic and social impacts.

Source of the article: Editorial / Catalan News Agency