Lisbon, July 24, 2024 (Lusa) - The 2023/24 autumn/winter cereal campaign showed “good productivity with improved margins”, while the spring/summer campaign recorded the decade’s lowest production, Statistics Portugal (INE) announced on Thursday.

According to INE’s “Agricultural Statistics 2024”, autumn/winter cereal crops saw increases in productivity “thanks to soil moisture and regular vegetative development, while favourable conditions enabled producers to maintain net margins despite more competitive prices and higher costs”.

For spring/summer cereals, particularly maize, the picture presented significant challenges: productivity declines, a reduction in area (-13.6%) and the lowest production in the last decade.

Vegetable and potato production increased by 3.1% and 10% respectively, “amid challenges such as delays in planting”, while tomato cultivation for industry saw an increase in area but a drop in productivity.

In fruit growing, INE points to “mixed results”: apples (+7.2%) and oranges (+26.9%) recovered from poor seasons, while diseases, low fruiting and climate change affected pears and kiwis, and cherries experienced a “further sharp decline” (-35.5%) In permanent crops, olive oil stood out with the second highest production ever and almonds reached a record high, consolidating Portugal as the second largest producer in the European Union (EU).

In contrast, chestnuts “remained below potential, despite high quality,” and diseases and adverse weather conditions “strongly affected” the grape harvest, with production falling by 8.1%.

PD/ADB // ADB.

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