It was like a midsummer night’s dream. It’s a peg to hold onto to achieve profitability in an industry where margins are low, such as livestock farming. However, it turned out that the continuity of goat exports from the Alicante province to Africa and the Middle East was impossible. The rising costs of both cultivation and air transportation have hindered this commercial activity. Approximately 5,000 copies were sold in countries such as Algeria, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.. The current war conflict in this region also does not help save transactions.
This undoubtedly promising experience started in 2016. Its basis is the characteristics of the native goat of the province of Alicante, an animal that needs to drink only one liter of water to give one liter of milk.This is in stark contrast to the five liters of water a cow needs to deliver the same performance. This and also its strong resistance to diseases. These qualities made them ideal for adapting to extreme climates such as those recorded in both Africa and the Middle East.
And it’s said and done. Two farmers belonging to Asaja, who have farms in Monóvar, Almoradí and Beneixama, started their export adventure under the coordination of the Spanish Murciano-Granadina Goat Breeders Association (Acrimur).The first shipment was to Iran, and was later followed by shipments to the same country, as well as Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, especially Dubai.
And the truth is, the venture had very promising beginnings until the rise in costs ruined everything. This is stated by Juan Luis Gimeno, one of the farmers who participated in the experience and who is also responsible for the sector in Asaja Alicante and is the second vice president of the same organization. In his words, “This was something that worked very well because our goats are immune to many diseases and adapt perfectly to the heat. We must add to this that they produce excellent milk. However With the arrival of the coronavirus and the record of price increases at a general level, things have already started to go wrong.».
Fuel
Gimeno mentions fuel first of all, considering that it is necessary to set up a rather complex logistics transport operation for goat exports. «First of all, we talked about the air departures of the trucks that have to transfer from our farms to Hospitalet or Zaragoza airports. to their destination,” he emphasizes.
But one of the main obstacles was found precisely in the fuel used by planes. As he explains, “While initially the cost of renting a plane with goats was 200 thousand euros, this amount has now doubled and reached 400 thousand euros.».
But this is not the end of the matter, considering that the cost of raising goats is also rapidly increasing due to the sharp increase in food prices. Gimeno emphasizes: both feed and feed grains are moving at historical pricesSomething that has a lot to do with the war in Ukraine, one of the world’s main producers. And just as an example, it shows that the price of feed, which was 230 euros per tonne, has now increased to 380 euros. Clover also took a big step forward from the 180 euros currently paid to 300 euros.
And all this in a context where consumption of these resources is higher than ever due to the severe drought affecting the state. «If it doesn’t rain – he complains – there is no pasture, so we have no choice but to feed the animals in the pens, along with the expenses.». We also see the need to import both feed and grain because the same lack of rainfall prevents them from being harvested on provincial soil.
The result of all these negative factors was nothing but this. Goats that previously cost 140 euros to raise now need 200 euros. According to Gimeno, “It is clear that the accounts are not going anywhere, considering that in these countries they pay us 180 euros and do not want to increase the price.”
Another farm owner, Julián Huertas, expressed himself in similar terms, emphasizing that “export demand is still there, but it is completely unsustainable at the prices they are willing to pay.” Mainly due to costs currently skyrocketing, but also, he adds, “because of brokers who don’t want to lose their margins, which sounds good to me, but What we farmers cannot do is work at a loss.».
The farmer explains that milk, whose price has fallen, is added to all this.. According to him, the problem stems from the fact that administrations do not pay due attention to the primary sector. “While it is clear that we cannot stop food production, unfortunately we have no one to support us, otherwise we will become dependent on third countries and there is the risk that comes with this,” he underlines. “We need someone with half a brain who can realize this fact.”
Because, Huertas adds, “I believe costs won’t come down. “They’ll stay here, and we’ll be paying the same price for milk as we did ten years ago.”
As if that wasn’t enough, The current war in the Middle East, the war in Gaza and the crisis caused by attacks on ships in the Red Sea are also not the best scenario for the recovery of business activities..
Export activity was not completely reduced in any case, except for Juan Luis Gimeno’s sales to Africa and the Middle East. It also carries out some operations, albeit smaller, with Greece and Portugal.. As he explains, transactions are still valid because transportation is not so expensive in these cases, but as said, “the volume is much lower than what we are dealing with,” he emphasizes.
Given that demand remains on the table, there is confidence that conditions will change so that previous business activities can be resumed. “It is necessary that the prices are consistent,” explains Gimeno, “but in no case did we abandon exports to these destinations, because the truth is that we were very satisfied with the results we achieved.”
Alicante lost 2,500 head of cattle in one year
The delicate situation of the livestock sector due to the sharp increase in costs recorded in recent years has led to the loss of up to 2,507 head of animals, according to the latest available data corresponding to the comparison of 2022 and 2023. in this range.
These figures belong to cattle and goats, which constitute the majority in this region. According to data provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, there was a decrease of 2,148 animals in goats, while the total number was 31,987. In the Kuzu region, the decrease was smaller, with the loss reaching 359 to 81,462.
And all of this is because of the insecurity the industry is in. An example of this is Julián Huertas, one of the farm owners who exports animals to Africa and the Middle East, and who had to increase the number of animals on his Almoradí farm from the 3,800 he had just three years ago to 1,800 today. In his words, the increase in costs and the decrease in milk prices bring difficulties in finding workers. “We are talking about a very self-sacrificing profession and there is no one who wants to get involved in this business. “The truth is that everything is against us,” he claims.