Economic impact of the apple snail to the left hemisphere of the Ebro Delta.

Identifier:  TFG:675

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TFG675

Authors:  Bo Durà, Alba; Múria Gallego, Albert

Abstract:
The paper addresses the scope and economic impact of apple snail pest in the left hemisphere of the Ebro Delta. It represents an experimental and quantitative contribution for the first time on this phenomenon. It analyzes the affectation of the apple snail pest and is discussed what has been the economic impact for local farmers. To answer that, we have formulated a set of hypotheses and discuss specifically what areas have been more affected and the least because of the plague of apple snail, as well as the result of public policies implemented by the administration, such as the salinization of some fields and use of some fertilizers. We did not want to leave out the final producer. That is why trying to quantify their costs to cope with the plague, such as field adaptation, adaptation of the irrigation system and drain system fields. Finally, we consider three scenarios on the total economic loss in the left hemisphere. On the one hand an optimistic scenario, where we use the most favorable data about every unfavorable data; pessimistic, with the worst results of the questionnaire and a third and final scenario, with the total loss of production. The paper concludes that the loss due to the apple snail is significant in all years and areas studied. Also significant is the loss due to salinization field public policy. In a multiple regression model, we quantified losses due to the two effects in the years 2013 and 2014. Finally, is estimated the total economic impact on the Delta left hemisphere with three scenarios. The result quantifies a very important economic loss and a jobs loss.