Agriculture prepares for when the drought returns
Production in the field has decreased greatly, and some hazelnut trees have simply died.
TarragonaThe drought that has plagued Catalonia for over three years has severely impacted agriculture. In the Camp de Tarragona region, farmers have watched as the lack of water and high temperatures reduced production, with each harvest yielding less than the last. The drought lasted so long that it depleted the trees of water reserves, and some simply died. "Last year's rains revived the olive, almond, and vineyards, but the hazelnut trees suffered greatly," explains Santi Vives Balcells of Unió de Pagesos (Farmers' Union). Even though these crops are dryland, the recent extreme weather conditions have wreaked havoc. Some farmers, after this ordeal, have decided to uproot their hazelnut trees and are now wondering whether it's worthwhile to switch to another crop or if it's time to abandon farming altogether. "Some are opting for olive trees, others for carob trees, and those who want to continue with hazelnut trees will wait a year or two," explains Martí Macías, water manager for the Unió de Pagesos farmers' union in Tarragonès. This waiting period should allow them to see how the trees develop, the weather patterns, and, above all, how the construction of a water regeneration station at the Reus wastewater treatment plant progresses. This project, being carried out by the Catalan Water Agency, should improve the treatment of the water used by the residents of Reus and, instead of releasing it back into the sea, allow it to be reused for irrigation. This process, long advocated by environmentalists, would allow the reuse of up to 7 cubic hectometers of water each year and would be a significant guarantee for farmers in the Baix Camp region and a portion of Tarragonès.
"Many farmers aren't sure they can irrigate if it doesn't rain," explains Macías, and water, which wasn't always necessary for certain crops, has now become essential. The climate crisis is making weather conditions that were once sporadic and less extreme commonplace, and agriculture is suffering. "Water is no longer about increasing production; it's about survival," explains Macías, who is confident that in a couple of years, irrigation will be possible using treated water from the Reus wastewater treatment plant.
Less production
Until that support arrives, there's still suffering to be had, especially for hazelnut growers. In 2024, 2,506 tons of hazelnuts were harvested in Catalonia, mainly in the Baix Camp, Alt Camp, and Tarragonès regions, 66% less than the tonnage harvested in 2022. Also, in just five years, the productive area of hazelnut orchards in Catalonia has fallen by 33.3%, according to ACN. This year, the harvest has recovered by 20%, but it is still far below normal.
