Ebro Delta rice harvest begins early amid falling prices

The rice harvest season has commenced in the Ebro Delta, starting with the 'bomba' variety. Due to high summer temperatures, the harvest has begun approximately ten days earlier than usual, a trend expected to continue with other varieties. Total production is anticipated to reach approximately 135,000 tons, with high grain quality reported so far.

Despite the positive outlook on crop volume and quality, producers are facing significant economic challenges. Market prices are expected to drop, with some prices falling to levels seen a decade ago, while production costs—particularly for gasoline—continue to rise. Josep Antoni Vidal of Unió de Pagesos has called for government intervention and policies to ensure food sovereignty, noting that current price drops to around 300 euros per ton are unsustainable compared to previous years.