Farmers Face Significant Losses as Weather Conditions Spur Disease Outbreaks
Polish cucumber growers are facing a challenging season as dangerous bacteria and diseases have decimated a significant portion of their crops. The hot and humid summer weather has created ideal conditions for these pathogens to thrive, leading to widespread damage across the country.
This year’s persistent high temperatures have inhibited the development of fungal diseases but have favored the proliferation of others, such as powdery mildew (Oomycetes Peronosporaceae) and bacterial angular spot of cucumber (Pseudomonas syringae). These diseases have severely affected cucumber seedlings, drastically shortening the harvest period. Normally lasting a month, the cucumber season in many regions ended after just one week due to the rapid progression of these diseases.
The severe reduction in Poland’s cucumber harvest may lead to increased reliance on imports to meet domestic demand. According to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Netherlands, the first four months of 2024 saw Poland import 38,000 tons of cucumbers, primarily from Spain (13,850 tons), Greece (7,690 tons), and Germany (4,980 tons).
This situation highlights the vulnerability of crop yields to changing weather patterns and underscores the need for effective disease management strategies in agriculture.
