Food prices are unpredictable in the summer due to a severe drought that hit the country, as well as a rise in the price of fertilizers from Russia and Ukraine. Prices for basic foodstuffs such as tomatoes, bread and potatoes can be much higher than they are today, even with zero VAT.
The warning comes from the European Commission, which considers the situation “particularly serious”, especially for farmers. “The severe drought in Southern Europe is of particular concern, not only for farmers, but also because it could push up consumer prices, which are already very high if production in the European Union were much lower,” said a source associated with European Union. with Lusa agency.
In Portugal, the President of the Confederation of Portuguese Farmers, Eduardo Oliveira i Souza, shares the same concerns and moves to cm that the onset of a drought means that the animals are already grazing in the crops because they will not survive for lack of rain.
“Rise in prices will affect all agricultural products. The drought entails high costs in terms of production and can even lead to shortages,” said Eduardo Oliveira i Sousa, stressing that the situation in southern Portugal is just as serious as in southern Spain. “It is important that state aid arrives on time, which is not happening,” he added.
On Sunday, Agriculture and Food Minister Maria do Seu Antunes announced that she had signed an order recognizing the dry situation in the country. Data from the Portuguese Sea and Atmospheric Institute show that the meteorological drought situation worsened in April, with 89% of the mainland suffering from a lack of soil water, 34% of the territory experiencing severe and extreme drought.