When all indications were that 2023 would be a record year in chestnut production, possibly even exceeding the 43,000 tons of 2019, early last week the trees were severely attacked by septoria – a fungus that causes desiccation and early autumn. of the chestnut leaf. In other words, this premature drying causes the urchins containing the chestnuts to fall without being fertilized.
As José Gomes Laranjo, researcher at the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro and director of the Portuguese Chestnut Association (RefCast), told Dinheiro Vivo, the fungus in question is quite widespread in areas where chestnuts are produced in Portugal, and should result in a sharp drop in production. It could “fall to half of a normal year, but slightly higher than in 2022, when it was about 23,000 tons,” he said, explaining that “in a normal year it could be about 100 million euros that is paid directly to producers. “.
This abrupt drop in national production will leave a smaller quantity of chestnuts available for trade, which, as José Laranjo says, will obviously result in a greater appreciation of the product for the producer. Therefore, “an average value of around 2 euros/kilo is expected to be paid to the producer, which will result in a value for the consumer between 3.5 and 4 euros per kilo”.
Responsible for the production losses is AgroAguiar, a company from Vila Pouca de Aguiar. Rodrigo Reis, Executive President, explained that the fungus has been installed in one of the most important Protected Dominance of Origin (DOP) regions for chestnut production, namely in Padrela, and that it will affect large-scale production. “When I say production is affected, I’m saying it affects between 70% and 80% of what that region normally produces and production will stop,” he laments, declaring this to be “a lost year.” And he warns of the consequences: “This region of Trás-os-Montes has a strong economy dependent on the chestnut sector and which will be greatly affected by this.”
Source: DN
