The agrarian organization Asaja Castilla-La Mancha launched the mobilization for next December 17 in Toledodate on which farmers will protest “in the face of the crisis of unsustainable profitability that the countryside is going through”.
The objective “is not only to demand more than justified measures for the sector, but also that the consumer learns to identify the products and know the differences between what our farmers produce and what comes from outside “.
The main causes of this crisis are “inflation and the increase in production costs, non-compliance with the law on the food chain, massive imports at ruinous prices and the lack of reciprocity with regard to production from third countries.
“Producing food in our country costs more than what they receive in exchange, even if current regulations prohibit paying below production costs,” says the agricultural organization.
Furthermore, trade agreements such as Mercosur “mean that our farmers must compete with imported products that do not meet the same standards quality, durability and safety that are required of nationals. “This is not only unfair to farmers, but also affects consumers, who most of the time do not have the opportunity to know the origin or practices used in the food they consume,” adds- he.
They also warn of the possibility that Donald Trump, once again president of the United States, “resumes protectionist measures, such as customs duties on European products, which, during the last term, seriously affected products Spanish”.
In summary, “we are endangering food sovereignty, that is, the consumer’s ability to make decisions and control that what is put on the table is above economic or political interests”.
“Unfortunately, we are faced with a polarized society at the behest of the political and economic class. We do not want false support or false promises and we reject any message of hatred or abuse of the suffering suffered by farmers”, declares José María Fresneda, president of Asaja, assuring that “the mobilization only responds to a single objective: to defend the productive sector”. model or, which amounts to the same thing, to guarantee society products offering guarantees of food safety, animal welfare and environmental protection.
What they ask
Among the main demands of the sector is the creation of a Cost observatory ensure market transparency and facilitate negotiations with commercial operators.
They also ask for a National agricultural production strategy which limits speculation on input prices, supervises oligopolies and establishes fiscal measures to support the sector.
They also demand a reform of the agricultural insurance systemso that it truly protects farmers’ incomes in the face of climatic adversity and does not exclude those who face economic difficulties due to high rates.
As for imports, require stricter controls on their traceability, quality and volumeas well as dissuasive tariffs and the application of “mirror clauses” in trade agreements, so that products from third countries meet the same requirements as European products.
Finally, they ask for a clear labeling which informs consumers about the origin and production conditions of food, guaranteeing transparency and traceability in the market.
