Farmers plan to camp outside Spain’s agriculture ministry from 29 October to 12 November after a Madrid march and tractor protest. Organisers expect about 500 tractors and are demanding relief from rising costs and fairer prices.
Farm groups say rising production costs and low prices are squeezing the viability of Spanish farms. ASAJA, COAG and Unión de Uniones de Agricultores y Ganaderos have called a national tractor protest in Madrid on 28 October, with the demonstration due to end outside the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Their slogans are “Dar de comer tiene que dar para vivir” and “Por un campo con futuro: soluciones ya.” The protest will be followed by an Asaja-organised camp outside the ministry from 29 October to 12 November.
Asaja says its members from across Spain will take turns at the site each day to maintain a continuous presence. COAG and Unión de Uniones de Agricultores y Ganaderos are organising the demonstration with Asaja; the camp itself is an Asaja initiative. Organisers expect about 500 tractors to travel to Madrid. Apag Extremadura Asaja says its delegation will take part in the protest and the subsequent camp.
The protesters’ five-part platform calls for an emergency plan to relieve production costs, a sufficiently funded Common Agricultural Policy, prices that remunerate farmers’ work, reciprocal conditions in trade agreements and less bureaucracy. They also want fairer prices backed by an effective Food Chain Law and protection from what they describe as unfair competition under trade agreements with non-EU countries. The organisations say input costs have risen without a matching return in the prices farmers receive for their products.
A central cost demand is a professional agricultural diesel system with reduced, stable taxation and a rebate applied directly when fuel is purchased. The requested support is intended to cover 70% of the real increase in diesel costs. The groups also call for the system to cover agricultural and beekeeping work, alongside broader relief for rising input costs, including fertilisers.
They cite Morocco and Mercosur among their concerns and demand that imported products meet standards equivalent to those imposed on EU producers. Mercosur countries include Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil. Alongside trade reciprocity, the organisers want adequate funding for the CAP and administrative simplification so farmers can devote more time to production.
Farm production also faces other risks. A separate report on insured crop risks after DANA ‘Adam’ examined potential damage in Comunidad Valenciana and Región de Murcia.
Apag Extremadura Asaja says its delegation will join the camp on 5 November. The organisation links the action to earlier demonstrations in Madrid on 10 and 11 February and a camp on 5 and 8 May, and says it is returning to press for solutions and fulfilment of commitments to the agricultural sector. Its participation forms part of the wider mobilisation organised by the national groups.
Asaja’s wider call includes farmers, livestock breeders and consumers. Its stated concerns extend beyond farm income to the future of people who live and work in rural areas. Agriculture Minister Luis Planas said he respected the right to peaceful assembly and demonstration, provided people and property were respected. UPA will not join the 28 October protest, citing the pre-election atmosphere, while Cooperativas Agro-alimentarias de España announced that it would take part.
