WRITTEN QUESTION P-1840/00 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Damage to tomato crops in Portugal.
Date: 2000-05-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: common organisation of markets, crop losses, fruit vegetable, natural disaster, production quota

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/101

As regards the period after 2006, the second report on cohesion to be adopted by the Commission at the
end of this year under Article 159 (ex 130b) of the EC Treaty will analyse the situation of the regions in
the context of an enlarged Union and propose certain orientations for future cohesion policy.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2001/C 81 E/121)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1840/00

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(31 May 2000)

Subject: Damage to tomato crops in Portugal

The unusually bad weather conditions which have affected Portugal since the beginning of the year, with a
long period of drought followed by a period of hail storms and torrential rain, have caused damage to
various crops and been extremely costly to farmers. Tomatoes have been particularly hard-hit, with serious
consequences for the processing industry. The hardest-hit regions are Alentejo and Ribatejo, where tomato
production is of special economic and social
importance. The figures given by the association of
Portuguese tomato growers (APTI) suggest that production will be at 40 % of the normal annual rate.
According to the organisation, less than half the fields have been planted as a result of rain, at a time when
they should have already reached a rate of 45 %. The APTI reckons that 25 % of crops will be lost.

The SantarØm farmers(cid:146) federation, in the Ribatejo region, has stated that 50 % of the area under crops has
been affected and that 25 % is likely to be lost. The 50 % of the land that has not been planted, i.e. some
4000 ha, will represent an average loss of Esc 600 000 per farmer, without any prospect of compensation.
It points out that this could jeopardise the processing industry(cid:146)s supplies.

Can the Commission answer the following:

1. What action does the Commission intend to take to help the affected tomato growers?

2. Will it take account of their difficulties when calculating Portugal(cid:146)s tomato quota in its proposal for

reform of the COM, so as to guarantee farmers(cid:146) quotas and incomes?

3. Does it intend to revise the method for calculating tomato quotas in the future reform of the COM?

4. What is the Commission(cid:146)s view on the establishment of reference thresholds for tomato production in
each Member State, as proposed by the European Parliament? Does it intend to include this proposal
in the future reform of the COM?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(27 June 2000)

Weather conditions were very bad throughout the Iberian Peninsula in the first four months of this year. A
lack of rain up to the end of March was followed by torrential rain in April and up to 10 May. Since then
the weather has been normal.

The Commission(cid:146)s information at the moment is that the production year is normal except for a three to
four week delay owing to the poor weather.

As regards modification of the present processing tomato arrangements, the Commission is examining the
situation of the sector and will make its proposals in due time.