ZAGREB, 24 April (Hina) – Frost damage to orchards and vineyards is visible almost throughout Croatia, but it varies depending on the area, Željko Ledinski of the Croatian Fruit Growers’ Association told Hina on Wednesday, warning that a big problem for fruit growers is that insurance companies refused to cover damage caused by frost.

“This year, the first frosts damaged the plantations of earlier varieties of apricots, cherries, peaches and pears, while later frosts damaged other varieties of apples, pears, cherries and plums in percentages ranging from 10% to 50%. The last frost at the beginning of this week particularly damaged the vineyards in the Poѕega area and the apples in the Moslavina, Bilogora and Slavonia regions,” Ledinski said.

Ledinski pointed out that a far bigger problem for fruit growers is that this year insurance companies refused to insure against frost damage. In addition, in recent years, since this has been co-funded under measure 17.1 Risk Management from the Rural Development Program, premiums have increased by as much as five times. “This has put the producers in a hopeless situation, because almost no one wants to offer them insurance for orchards, and those that do get a quote, it is not worth it because the premiums are too high.”

“All this, along with the existing damage, will lead to a decrease in domestic production and an increase in imports of fruit, especially apples,” Ledinski concluded.