The rabbit plague continues to wreak havoc on fruit tree farms in Baix Segre. Following the Three Kings' Day snowfall, farmers observed a change in animal behavior; they now climb the trees to seek out more tender shoots, directly impacting the productive part of the plants, not just the trunk.
“"It is desperate because we find ourselves defenseless due to the speed at which the damage occurs. The current measures are patches and do not work 100%."
This situation forces producers to implement palliative measures, such as preventive pruning to leave food within reach of the rabbits or the application of phytosanitary products and a mixture of lime and copper on the bark to repel them.
The head of the Sweet Fruit Sector of Asaja, Jordi Vidal, pointed out that in areas of overpopulation, the animal causes damage that can reach 30% of the farms, and demanded an expansion of resources to tackle the problem.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food has opened aid lines, with a budget of over 2 million euros, to finance protection measures against game fauna, including fences, ammunition, and devices for night hunting.
