What do Spanish farmers demand? Reasons for the protests

food chain law

Farmers and ranchers think there is a situation. Systematic non-compliance with food chain law, a regulation approved in December 2021 that aims, among other things, to value rural activities and food and in the process achieve prices that allow producers to cover their production costs. “Ministry should start like this: set criteria “To determine these production costs and to ensure that the prices we farmers receive, that is, the origin price, give us enough to live on,” argues the Unió de Pagesos (UP) union. The Food Information and Control Agency (AICA) must act together ex officio inspections In cases where “prices are abnormally low, as is the case with lemons right now,” the campaigners add:

Diesel for professional use

Industry demands “more direct and agile” support diesel for agricultural use. The demand is for the discount that has been extended in Spain since January 1 to be implemented. at the point of supplyThose affected insist instead on the current system of tax deductions at the end of the year when annual expenses are presented, “as has been done for all citizens in the post-Covid era”. As accepted by the Government last December, it was envisaged that the previous net return amount would be equal for the 2024 tax period in order to cover the increase in the cost of some inputs in agricultural and livestock activities. You can get a 35% discount on diesel purchases 15% of the purchase price of agriculture and fertilizer.

Import from third countries

Management should solve the problem unfair import competition Farmers protest that it does not meet the same conditions required for production in European Union member countries. “We work in a deregulated market, that’s important Agricultural products from third countries at low prices“This creates downward pressure on prices in Spain,” they condemned. “These non-EU productions do not comply with the EU’s internal regulations and represent a contradiction and hypocrisy in Europe’s political action. “An unfair competition that controls the viability of thousands of farms in Spain and Europe,” they add. Among the countries that most threaten Spanish agriculture are, for example, Morocco, which receives preferential treatment in Europe. “With European supervision, the Commission Controls at the Moroccan border They demand “to guarantee that agricultural products imported from that country comply with the EU’s internal regulations and the tariff amounts determined in the free trade agreement.” Reviewing or not renewing contracts With major rivals such as New Zealand, Chile, Mexico, Kenya and India.

Effect of drought

The protests in both Catalonia and Andalusia also include a specific complaint about the effects of drought. Unió de Pagesos demands that the Generalitat pay the aid it has promised. Last year’s drought in the grain and herbaceous products sector Thus, the farmer can bear the costs of seed, diesel fuel, fertilizer application, soil fertilization and planting. Andalusian producersFor their part, they are demanding urgent improvements to the hydraulic infrastructure that causes “50% of the water constraints experienced by farmers in provinces like Huelva.”

Agricultural insurance reform

Farmers, especially those who see how extreme weather events They want agricultural insurance to be reformed to better cover the new conditions created by climate change as they reduce their yields. “You have to save something strengthened budget For agricultural insurance, to adapt it to the structural situation represented by droughts and adverse meteorological events, which are increasingly intensified and repeated due to climate change,” continues the unions calling for protests. Minister of Agriculture Luis Planas. parliament view this week “one adaptation of the rural insurance system“, but did not specify budget allocations or implementation deadlines.

bureaucratic burden

“We demand a Flexibility and simplification of existing CAP“Given that excessive bureaucracy leads to unaffordable costs for professional farmers and ranchers and makes it impossible to meet environmental targets,” ask the majority unions. This includes, among other issues, the establishment of “an indefinite moratorium on executive marches.” digital exploitation notebook” is, paradoxically, one of the tools of which the ministry is most proud. autonomous communitiesImmediate reforms are called for to “streamline bureaucratic procedures that stifle professionals in the field.” Reducing the bureaucratic burden will speed up the collection of aid, which is currently received with serious delays.

How did Brussels react?

The European Commission has responded, for now, to the French countryside’s request to repeal for a year the rules of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which encourages farmers to engage in agriculture. leave certain lands fallowThis was a measure that caused discontent, especially in France. However, for Spanish farmers this is not a priority demand because some crops, such as herbaceous crops and cereals, have been leaving the land fallow for some time to benefit from the CAP. It also agrees to impose limitations on the extension of the contract. Free trade with Ukraine Trying to reassure farmers who are exposed to strong competition in Eastern countries. Another demand of French farmers is: Free trade agreement with Mercosur, It offers advantages and disadvantages for Spanish producers. On the one hand, it offers fewer facilities export certain products agri-food but also guarantees that they will continue Other sectors are more protected such as livestock and citrus fruits.