Lanzarote rain “too little, too late”

Last weekend’s rains may have arrived too late to benefit some crops, according to a report in Lancelot.

Farmer Higinío Hernández said that the rain has probably helped deep-rooted crops, such as grapevines and fruit trees, but that it had rained too little and too late in zones where shallow-rooted crops such as potatoes and other vegetables are grown.

He said that onions are usually harvested at Easter, but that this year they had not yet appeared above ground.

Hernández also stated that the hail that had fallen in many areas did more harm than good and called for improvement in the irrigation system on the island.

“If it doesn’t rain, but we have mains water then we can continue working, but we don’t have it so everything’s a disaster,” he said.