Via WhatsApp groups, by word of mouth, or with the first call from the independent agricultural union Unión de Uniones, farmers took to the streets in several regions of Spain. They demanded more flexibility in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), support for drought-related losses, and greater backing from the central administration. They acted without waiting for the official start signal from the three main farm groups in the country—Asaja, COAG, and UPA—which are the official interlocutors with the Government. Though the formal protest schedule began on Thursday, February 8 in Ávila, Salamanca, and Ciudad Real, hundreds of workers blocked Malaga port, closed roads in Castilla y León, and moved into Zaragoza, Castellón, and Huesca with their tractors. Protests continued across many provinces on Tuesday, with numerous communication routes, especially highways, blocked. There were also blockades at logistics hubs such as Malaga, Mercazaragoza, and the port of Mercamadrid.
What do farmers want? These are the keys to the ground conflict
As the day unfolded, the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) updated the map of outages affecting major state highways, notably stretches of the A-1, A-2, A-4, A-5, A-6, A-92, A-42, A-66, A-50, A-62, and A-30, among others. Protesters managed to block access to the ports of Malaga and Mercazaragoza, while a group from Ávila attempted to reach Mercamadrid before police cordons stopped them.
So far there have been no major incidents aside from occasional arrests of some protesters. The Transport Sector Defense Platform expressed solidarity by announcing a strike that will begin next Saturday, alongside the shutdown of farms and cooperatives in various parts of the country this Tuesday. Farmer Lola Guzmán, spokesperson for the newly formed Platform 6F, described the reaction as extraordinary and urged direct dialogue with the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas.
In a single day, independent demonstrations surpassed the capacities of Asaja, COAG, and UPA. Unión de Uniones, the group that organized the Madrid center disruption in July 2023, launched its own mobilization calendar on Tuesday, February 6 in Castilla y León, focusing on Burgos, Miranda del Ebro, Briviesca, Medina de Pomar, and Aranda de Duero. Beyond these, spontaneous WhatsApp networks have emerged, uniting farmers from across the map.
Agricultural employers’ associations believe protests remain within controllable bounds and argue that all mobilizations are necessary to safeguard the survival of farms. They point to a recent win: the European Commission withdrew a proposal to halve pesticide use amid renewed protests in the primary sectors across the EU. Regarding the protest schedule, COAG notes that some demonstrations still need to be added by organizations, as most require two weeks’ notice. A slow march planned for February 12 in Madrid involves around 200 tractors traveling along regional roads in the southern outskirts of the capital, with additional mobilizations in Asturias and other regions. This attempt to align Asaja and UPA’s visions did not prevail.
Unión de Uniones presents a distinct view. “They lost not only control but also prestige,” said Secretary General Luis Cortés. The organization felt left out even though it had brought its demands to the ministry at a meeting last Friday with the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas. Farmers say the governing bodies failed to represent the sector before the Government. They argue that protests began early because they felt rejected by the main organizations, which then relied on social networks to mobilize.
Today, mobilizations driven by social media are anticipated daily. Officially, and since not all actions can be tracked, Asaja, COAG, and UPA urged farmers to move out after 8 p.m. The plan will roll out across Ávila, Salamanca, and Ciudad Real, with activities starting in different provinces each day, including a February 27 kickoff in Córdoba. Unión de Uniones has also encouraged actions in Venta de Pinillas (Segovia) and other parts of Castilla y León between February 6 and 16.
Tractors across Spain
For various reasons, it was clear that demonstrations had already begun the previous week. Some protests occurred in Valladolid and Zamora, while a handful of tractors rolled onto the roads in Zamora a week earlier. Traffic jams formed in the early hours around Valencia, Logroño, Zamora, Benavente, and Valladolid. In Aragon, hundreds of tractors created significant gridlock, reaching Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel, and farmers blocked entrances to the port of Málaga and nearby Mercamálaga facilities and the Center for Goods Transport (CTM).
In Murcia, a truck blocked routes on highways and secondary roads leading into the region. Municipal services were coordinated by the local council as crisis measures were activated. In Catalonia, hundreds of tractors converged on Fondarella, flooding Lleida’s streets and nearby towns in the southern districts. Lleida saw crowds of more than 1,500 vehicles, with drivers planning to stay on the road overnight before heading to Barcelona to confront the Agri-Climate department’s stance the next morning.
Amid the protests, the government released a list of 139,000 farmers who would receive about ₹269 million in drought relief. Assistance for rain-fed rice and tomato growers affected by the drought ranged from 20 to 407 euros per hectare. Government spokesperson Pilar Alegría reiterated after the Council of Ministers that the central administration remains committed to the primary sector: they will protect, support, and stand with farmers.
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Political reactions
Throughout the day, statements came from leading politicians. The government’s spokesperson reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to the primary sector and stated that it would always back farmers and safeguard access to essential services. The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, emphasized ongoing dialogue with agricultural organizations as the path forward and urged solutions through cooperation with the European Commission, the Spanish Government, and the autonomous communities, eleven of which are led by PP and VOX. The Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska noted that security forces are working to balance farmers’ right to protest with the public’s right to access basic services.
Regional leaders also spoke. Madrid’s regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso accused the Government of harming the agricultural sector due to its policies, while Navarra’s president María Chivite argued for guaranteeing the free demonstration of a sector whose concerns do not align with all regional leaders. In light of widespread protests across Spain and Europe, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the withdrawal of a proposed new law on the sustainable use of phytosanitary products.