Necochea faces agricultural crisis as floods inundate 25,000 hectares, halting harvests

Necochea, Argentina, is grappling with a severe agricultural crisis as nearly 25,000 hectares face inundation due to excessive rainfall since May. The deluge has decimated rural roads, leaving fields waterlogged and making it nearly impossible to harvest and transport grains. Producers are warning of mounting economic losses as crops like second-season soybeans and corn remain unharvested.

The region has recorded between 240 and 400 millimeters of rain in recent weeks, adding to an annual total nearing 700 millimeters. This has paralyzed the rural logistics, with sunflower crops still stored in silos due to access issues. Farmers report that harvested soybeans have a moisture content too high for safe storage, risking significant losses.

Producers are calling for an official declaration of a water and road emergency. They argue that insufficient maintenance and investment in the road network have amplified the impact of the extreme weather. Juan De la Calle, president of the Ente Vial, stated that approximately 70% of Necochea's rural roads are affected, highlighting the scale of the infrastructure damage. The situation worsened significantly on May 6, when nearly 240 millimeters of rain fell in just over 24 hours across several localities.