Hail Hits Sa Pobla: Potato Crops Severely Damaged

Hail in Sa Pobla: Harvest at risk

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Late Tuesday afternoon around 4:30 PM, an unexpected hailstorm swept over the fields around Sa Pobla. Within minutes, fields turned into a rutted, black surface: plants knocked down, leaves pocked, potato tubers left open in the mud. Those who couldn't shield the field immediately now face a scene that takes the breath away from many farmers.

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Farmers anticipate heavy losses

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Several operations report harvest losses that in some plots could exceed 60%. The older farmer on the road to Inca said he has grown potatoes on this land for 40 years and has never seen anything like this. Tractors stand with damaged trailers at the farm, workers sort the first affected potatoes. In addition, many farms have been fighting pests and the sharp price drop at the market for weeks.

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Insurance coverage is missing and makes the situation more complicated: Many insurance contracts exclude weather-related damage like this or pay only a part. Therefore, on-site there is a push for the municipality to recognize the area as a disaster zone. Only then could emergency aid and relief funds flow quickly.

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Need for help and perspectives

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At the Sa Pobla weekly market this morning the topic was everywhere. Buyers who usually haggle over fruit and vegetables offered concerned words and help. A young farmer has already organized a neighborhood initiative: helpers, equipment, joint sorting of the damaged produce. Small actions that relieve pressure but do not solve the underlying problems.

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The coming days will show how large the damage really is. Agricultural advisors are on the move, cost estimates are being prepared, and early pleas have been formulated to the island government and the municipality. For many family farms, a lot now depends on whether state support is approved quickly.

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A hailstorm has not only hit plants – it hits livelihoods. And in Sa Pobla you can feel that today on every country road.