Rabbit overpopulation has become a growing problem for many farmers in the province of Castellón. According to LA UNIÓ Llauradora i Ramadera, the damage these animals cause to citrus orchards forces farmers to make additional investments in protective measures that can increase production costs by between 540 and 1,380 euros per hectare, depending on the type of farm and the severity of the damage. Among the most common solutions are the installation of individual protectors for young trees, the use of repellents, and fencing off the plots.
The agricultural organization is calling on the Generalitat to establish a specific line of aid to finance these preventive measures and warns that the abandonment of agricultural plots is encouraging the proliferation of wildlife—especially rabbits and wild boars—which find refuge on these lands before moving on to active croplands. The goal is to reduce the economic losses suffered by farmers and protect the profitability of Valencian citrus farms.
Original news item: LA UNIÓ Llauradora i Ramadera
