My account 
The consequences of the disruption of the seasons on the agriculture
The disruption of the seasons has profound repercussions on many aspects of our planet. For farmers, whose activities depend closely on natural cycles, this poses considerable challenges. From planting timing to harvest management, farmers are faced with a new climatic reality that requires rapid adaptation.
Winters are milder and shorter, while summers are longer and often hotter. For farmers, this means that crop growth periods can be deregulated, with temperatures and rainfall no longer in line with seasonal expectations.
This has a direct impact on crops. For example, milder winters can lead to an increase in pest infestations, which were traditionally reduced by winter frost. Similarly, hotter, drier summers can lead to water shortages and water stress for crops, compromising yield and quality.
Increased variability in climatic conditions also makes agricultural planning more difficult. Farmers can no longer rely on traditional weather models to accurately predict future conditions. Sudden fluctuations in temperature, extreme weather events such as storms and droughts, and unpredictable changes in precipitation, have become commonplace, making crop and farm management even more complex.
How did this affect us this year ?
Farmers often have to find ways of adjusting their growing practices to meet these new challenges. We invest a lot of effort in a more efficient irrigation system, as unfortunately we had to use it even during those winter months. To our great regret, we had to continue watering the trees almost six days out of 7, otherwise they wouldn’t have survived, whereas at this time of year we should only have needed to do so once a week, if at all.
In addition to the lack of water, we experienced very intense winds in October and November, which severely damaged our trees, already weakened by the difficult weather conditions. We are very much afraid of losing a large part of our orange trees, especially in the Verger de Alicia plantation, where we are still waiting to see how the trees will recover.
Ultimately, the consequences of climate change on the seasons have significant economic repercussions for farmers. Crop losses, the additional costs of adapting to new climatic conditions, and uncertainty about future climate stability, can jeopardize the economic viability of farms, particularly for smallholders with limited resources to cope with these challenges. This year, the harvest was so poor that we had to take the decision to limit the shipment of the fruits solely to the owners of an orange tree.
Planning becomes more and more difficult as we have to constantly adjust our planting and harvesting calendars to better match current climatic conditions.
What actions do we take ?
In the face of these challenges, it is imperative that we adopt more sustainable and resilient farming practices that take into account the new climatic realities. This can include adopting soil conservation techniques, like creating vegetal cover, to prevent erosion, diversifying crops to reduce the risks associated with dependence on a single crop, and investing in infrastructure and technologies that enable more efficient use of natural resources and better pest detection. That is why we think it is so important to collaborate with other experts and farmers to exchange best practices.
