Rains from storm Alice bring relief to Alicante’s dry farmlands
After months of severe drought, the rainfall from storm Alice has revived Alicante’s rainfed crops, offering long-awaited relief to farmers, though more water is still needed for a full recovery.
The Alicante branch of ASAJA, the Young Farmers Agricultural Association, has reported that the rainfall brought by storm Alice was largely a blessing for the province’s rainfed crops, after months of extreme drought.
Depending on the area, between 20 and 150 litres of rain per square meter fell, enough to soak the soil, replenish groundwater, and lift hopes for the next growing season. “These were wonderful rains, and thankfully there haven’t been any serious incidents or damage,” said Ramón Espinosa, ASAJA Alicante’s technical secretary.
The rain was particularly welcome in areas such as Ibi, Alcoi, Teulada, les Valls de la Marina, and Relleu, where almonds, cereals, cherries, muscat grapes, and olive trees have been struggling with prolonged dryness. The moisture has helped ease the situation, though Espinosa noted it’s still “not enough to fully restore productivity after years of drought like the one in 2024.”
In Teulada, muscat grape grower Juan José Buigues said the vines “couldn’t have received this rain at a better time,” explaining that this year’s downpour has given new life to a crop that nearly vanished. “2024 was a total write-off, the drought almost wiped us out. Now we just need steady rainfall to finish recovering,” he said.
Cherry growers are also hopeful. After several poor harvests, the heavy rain in mountain areas, with up to 125 liters per square metre recorded in the Vall de Gallinera, could help reinvigorate the trees.
ASAJA Alicante welcomed the fact that Alice caused no major damage while providing a crucial boost to dryland agriculture. Still, the association urged authorities to stay alert and continue maintaining rural roads, drainage systems, and irrigation infrastructure, and to reactivate support plans for rainfed crops, which remain vulnerable to erratic rainfall and limited crop insurance.
Adapted from an original article published in La Marina Plaza: La lluvia de ‘Alice’, un rayo de esperanza para los cultivos de secano en crisis de la Marina Alta
