Over 70% of tomatoes uprooted in Sicily
"Almost all August and September transplants, as well as part of the October ones, are affected by theTomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV)," explains a producer from Vittoria.
Of course this means production will be halved. Producers, who already had to deal with the economic and sales crises, would have to replant crops, leading to a doubling of costs and delayed production and harvesting. Instead of harvesting in November in December, they will have to wait for March and April, which is when other countries also start harvesting. This in turn will mean lower prices.
At the moment, over 70% of the tomato plants to be harvested in November and December are being uprooted. Of course this will affect the economy of the area, which mostly depends on agriculture, and tomatoes in particular.
As reported by reteiblea.it, the local administration requested the help of the Region and institutions. According to Mayor Giovanno Moscato, "our agriculture was already suffering due to the global crisis, and now the situation risks getting worse because of the virus. I want to help our producers and we have already asked regional bodies to help us find suitable countermeasures."