An Aradean who invested 5,000 euros in the strawberry plantation remained again without harvest. “I sprayed, I had anti-free foil”

The unexpected negative temperatures for April left an Aradian without strawberry harvest. He invested 4,000 – 5,000 euros this year alone. Unknown, says the farmer, is that the insurance companies do not accept to conclude policies, so year by year the land of the earth counts the damage.

5 years ago the female planted strawberries on 6,000 sqm photo: Costel Vișan

The unexpected frost recorded a week ago left hundreds, if not thousands of farmers with tears in their eyes. Those who have not had a solution to protect their crops, having plantations in the field, are now calculating their damage and trying to see if they can recover from the injury.

Costel Vișan is a farmer from Cermei, Arad County, who saw his investment canceled by the frost. For five years she plants strawberries in the field and all this time only one has been “as good as”, says the farmer. He reached strawberries after trying with lubenitis, also recording losses. Because it cannot be put in the weather, the dissatisfaction comes now from the fact that it does not find an agreement in the insurance companies to conclude policies in case of natural calamities.

“On a radius of 20-30 km I am the only one who cultivates strawberries. I also made a request to the town hall, to come to make evaluation, but I was told from MADR that I can only escape tax to finance. There are people with rapesees, there are still people with trees. At least 4,000-5,000 euros I have invested on this surface. Mulching ”, said the farmer, for “Adevărul”. The plantation of which less than 15-20% of the plants were saved has 60 areas (6,000 square meters). The strawberries, evaluated the farmer, should have been ribing in early May. “I was selling in the markets. I went out with them with them, but I don't go out, I have no more. I am here and there, maybe on May 20, but no 15-20% I don't think it is. added the farmer.

Last year the damage came because of the hail, which broke out even when they were preparing for picking. The biggest dissatisfaction of the farmer is that he cannot secure his culture so he can cover at least his investment. “I wanted to secure my cultures, I do not leave, because I have the house insured, but they do not want to secure my crops. The insurance companies do not want to ensure because there are cultures that are exposed to the risk. I would have been willing to pay even double.” explains Vișan.

“The money I earn and the boy put here in the field”

For five years, since he set up the strawberry plantation, in a single one he had earned: “Last year nothing, this year, nothing five years ago, nothing ago, nothing, in one year, in five years, I also had a benefit, around 6,000 euros, from an investment of 4,000. The wife said that we are better off, that we are better. Three years.

Plantation of Aradean farmer Costel Vișan was destroyed by Photo Ice: Costel Vișan

In addition to strawberries, pepper is cultivated. He hopes that at least with the pepper will have more increase, otherwise the year will be terrible.

Immediately after the frost temperatures he announced the City Hall, requesting a commission to move to the field and to evaluate its damage. He is still waiting, the last news being that next week representatives of the Arad Agricultural Directorate could come.

Until 5 years ago, the same happened with the Lubenița. “The late frost was the problem. When I was planting the lubrications, it took no more than two or three weeks, a month, a frost came, it was melting. I have a colleague here next to me, in the apata, 2 hectares of lubeni went to him. Were minus 7.5 degrees. I was prepared with a foil of 23 gr/sqm, lasts up to minus 4 degrees. Two days before I gave with anti-frog solution, for nothing. At minus 7.5 degrees, and the phone showed me real minus 10 degrees, what could happen? ”, adds the farmer.

The villagers from the cermei, explains the farmer, cultivate cereals on large areas, are not many small farmers. Those who have little land lease it, so it has few variants. “I left the lubenita, I put strawberries. Now, To put trees is the risk of frost... ”says Vișan.

Extremely little plants have escaped the effects of April Photo frost: Costel Vișan

From two to two years, the plants must be rejuvenated. He has already ordered 16,000 plants, which he will receive in June. What they buy does not know for now. “I am tired of loans. And from the salary we have to live, we have other expenses …”, says the vegetable. However, he is still thinking about possible solutions. He proposed that next year try with two rows of foil, because the option of abandoning his plantation to go to work abroad for now. Neither solar can build, because there is a risk of strong winds.

He bought, for this year, an anti -garden net. As it is no longer necessary to use it, because too few plants have been saved, it will use it next year, he says, resigned, the farmer.