WHAT SEEMED TO BE A CATASTROPHE HAS BECOME AN OPPORTUNITY.

The arrival of the Tuta Absoluta on the island of Ibiza put farmers and the administration in check when it comes to coping with an unprecedented plague. Its rapid expansion through this island territory and the scarcity of means in its struggle made both farmers and the administration desist in its control.. La Tuta won the first part of the battle.

In 2009, the tomato moth plague despaired, even more, to the Ibizan farmers who were still betting on this crop: «At the price that the tomato was, it was not worth treating it with chemicals or being on top of the tomato plant. The more you did, the more you lost», declared Pep Palau.

But in 2010, changed the situation. What was sung would be a catastrophe turned into a business opportunity: prices are more attractive, temperatures until summer have not harmed the plant and, the most important, the advance of Tuta Absolute has been slowed thanks to the appearance of more effective compounds and auxiliaries against this plague: «moment, infestation levels are minimal or low and under control. It is true that the majority abandonment of the crop diminished the proliferation of the plague“, Palau said.

Agroeivissa's manager confirmed that: “I have the controls in the warehouse and the incidents by Tuta have nothing to do with those of last year, when another plague overlapped, the cariosis, a mite that left the leaf system of the tomato plant as if it had gone to Es Cavallet to sunbathe».

parallel, and in view of what happened a year ago, the peasants (farmers) they decided to plant less tomato, what has allowed, thanks to the lower offer, improve the sale price. «Until May it was paid, in general, a 15 from 20% above last year's prices –Says the manager of Agroeivissa–. This has also been helped by the fact that the Almería area had problems with the weather, with the rain, and there have been no planned productions of tomatoes».

Something similar with the tomato has happened with the Italian pepper: «Last year we threw a lot of Italian peppers. There was much sown on the island and it could not be placed. This year, that less has been sown, lack. The market here is very local, very influenceable. If a product is misplaced one year, less than that is sown next year».

Like this, in 2009 they were sold, total, 17,5 tons of that vegetable to 0,61 euros per kilo on average, while so far this season (it won't end until fall) Agroeivissa has already placed 12 tons to 0,83 EUR.

Somehow, This situation confirms that planning in domestic market crops is essential when seeking benefits, avoiding flooding the markets with an excess supply. They are fundamental principles of economics that some farmers find it very difficult to reconcile.