Potato Crisis in Sa Pobla: Over 500 Fields Left Fallow

When the Tractor Suddenly Stops

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Early in the morning on the Camí de Muro it smells of damp earth and exhausted hope. A tractor has stood at the field edge for weeks, the engine cold. This is how many plots around Sa Pobla look today: more than 500 winter potato fields were not planted this season – not out of protest, but because for many farmers it simply no longer pays.

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Why the fields are left empty

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There are several reasons that interlock: pests that spread despite control attempts; sharply rising fertilizer and energy prices; and new EU regulations that many farms still have to come to terms with. "I ran the numbers," says a small agricultural entrepreneur who manages his field on the outskirts. "If the potatoes ultimately yield less than the seed and the diesel combined, then it's simply not worth it."

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There is also market uncertainty: cheap imports push prices down, and if trading partners do not provide reliable off-take guarantees, many will be priced out.

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What the farmers are demanding

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From the village comes a clear signal: fair prices for the harvest, short-term aid against acute infestation problems, and practical support in switching to new EU directives. At the municipal center meeting last night, the discussion lasted until 8:30 pm. Many are calling for direct payments for agriculture or at least binding off-take contracts with processors.

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"We want to work, not beg," summed up a farmer. And yes, one can sense the despair: it's about income, about jobs – and about the disappearance of old varieties that have been grown here for generations.

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The consequences for the village

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Empty fields mean more than less harvest. They affect truck drivers, warehouse workers, and traders. Small businesses dependent on seasonal orders fear for their existence. Above all, a piece of the landscape is threatened to disappear: the rows in the fields, the mowing, the dust-laden network in autumn – that is part of the daily rhythm in Sa Pobla.

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The local government has already announced talks with representatives of the island government. Whether that is enough remains to be seen. Many here say: quick, concrete measures are needed – otherwise the potato will lose its place on Mallorca.

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What helps now: short-term price supports, targeted pest control, and binding off-take contracts. And a bit more attention in Palma and Brussels. Otherwise soon all that will remain is the memory told over coffee in Plaça Major.