Balearic farmers join Madrid tractor protest over costs

On 28 October, a delegation from the Balearic Islands joins a tractor protest in Madrid, Spain, over rising farm costs. The Balearic Association of Young Farmers (Asaja-Baleares) says the expense of producing food on islands makes the squeeze worse. The march, called by Asaja, the Coordinadora de Organizaciones de Agricultores y Ganaderos (COAG) and Unión de Uniones, is due to finish outside Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Diesel, fertiliser, animal feed and energy are all costing more, Asaja-Baleares says. The prices farmers receive for their produce do not always cover those bills, cutting into farm incomes and leaving businesses uncertain about their future.

The groups want an emergency plan for production costs. Their proposals include a lower, stable tax on agricultural diesel and a discount when farmers fill up, rather than relying only on temporary aid. They also want the Common Agricultural Policy to avoid cuts and support farm incomes. Asaja-Baleares says its next version must account for the extra costs of farming on the Balearic Islands.

The other demands include fair prices, enforcement of the food supply chain law and less paperwork. The groups also want protection from what they describe as unfair competition linked to trade deals with Mercosur and Morocco.

Topics: Agriculture · Politics · Economy

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com