Brussels-Madrid: Agencies
The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture announced a decrease in grain production in the country by 37.8%, or 8.9 million tons, as a result of the drought that threatens the country to reduce agricultural production in general, and also as a result of Russia's withdrawal from the grain agreement across the Black Sea.
The Spanish newspaper "The Economista" said that the grain crisis is facing Europe completely, as the Ukrainian alternative transportation routes for exporting grain to Europe have become threatened, after Russia's attack on the Danube River port led to the destruction of the infrastructure there, while it may be politically difficult. Increased shipments by rail and road through Eastern European countries.
And in Spain, wheat, the grain that until now had the highest production and is essential for the food industry, will suffer, for example, a 36% drop compared to the previous year, but it will more than halve compared to 2021, to 3.9 million tons. In the same vein also, according to the data of agriculture, “in spring cereals, the first advance in the area sown for the 2023 harvest, very preliminary, indicates a decrease in both sorghum (-35.3%), maize (-17, 9%) and rice (-2.5 %)". According to Manqul, the site of the seventh day in Cairo, adding, “Something similar also happens with legumes. The first estimates are still very preliminary, but nevertheless they show a decrease in almost all crops, especially lentils, with a decrease of 50.4%; dry peas, where production decreased by 27.4% % or forage production decreased by 26.3%.
The situation could also worsen because Spain is the second country most affected by Russia's cutting of the safe route for Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea, after only China. According to data from the United Nations, until July 2023, the Asian giant was the main grain trader across the Black Sea, accounting for 25% of the market (7.96 million tons), followed by Spain with about six million tons; Italy (2.1 million); Netherlands (1.96 million).