ASAJA Valle del Ebro has expressed concern about the situation affecting the agricultural sector in La Rioja, Catalonia, Navarre, and Aragon, warning about the loss of generational succession, the disappearance of the predominant family farming model in these regions, and the loss of the much-demanded food sovereignty.
Since 2020, there has been a 47% decrease in budget allocation by the authorities for the primary sector, with a caution that if this policy is not reversed, «Europeans will soon depend on third countries for their food supply.»
During the regular meetings among ASAJA representatives in the Ebro Valley communities, held in Zaragoza on Tuesday, significant concerns were raised about the future of agriculture and livestock farming in these lands. The meeting was attended by ASAJA Zaragoza’s General Secretary, Emilia Guillen; ARAG-ASAJA’s General Secretary, Igor Fonseca; ASAJA Lleida’s President, Pere Roque; and ASAJA Aragon and ASAJA Huesca’s General Secretary, Ramón Solanilla.
Igor Fonseca from ARAG-ASAJA La Rioja highlighted the major concern in their community regarding the fire blight disease. «The disease is spreading rapidly throughout the Ebro Valley. We urge the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food to coordinate efforts to combat this issue that is devastating agricultural operations,» he stated.
Representatives from the Ebro Valley basin, also affected by this disease in fruit-growing operations, are demanding a national plan to combat fire blight. The General Secretary of ARAG-ASAJA reiterated the call for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food to provide a line of aid for the recovery and restructuring of this vital agricultural sector.
AGRICULTURAL INSURANCE
Another critical issue discussed was agricultural insurance, recalling the recent climatic adversities like hailstorms or torrential rains that have impacted the entire Ebro Valley.
All communities emphasized that insurance is «essential for the operation of farms.» They stress the need to adjust the model to current meteorological conditions, demanding the restoration of the additional 10% that was cut this year for insurance, amounting to around 100 million euros.
Emilia Guillen, the General Secretary of ASAJA Zaragoza, emphasized the fundamental role of insurance in the proper functioning of farms.
WORKING HOURS
An issue that could have severe repercussions in the field is the reduction of working hours. Pere Roque, President of ASAJA Lleida, expressed strong opposition to the reduction of working hours, stating that it does not align with the sector’s needs.
He pointed out that farm tasks cannot be governed by regulations that do not consider the crop cycles or animal care, asserting that it is incompatible with the life of an agricultural or livestock operation.
ASAJA representatives in the Ebro Valley emphasized that cost increases will impact the cost of living without certainty that farmers can reflect them in selling prices, potentially leading to an economic crisis.
They highlighted the challenges that the «stringent regulations» pose to Spanish farmers and livestock breeders, contrasting with the agreements the European Union is negotiating with Mercosur, whose labor, environmental, and health conditions are «very lenient compared to regulations,» they criticized.
ASAJA Aragon raised concerns about the low price of cereal, prompting the agricultural organization to hold protests and demonstrations in recent weeks outside the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food headquarters.
PAC REFORM
Ramón Solanilla, the General Secretary of ASAJA Aragon, highlighted that Spain is the «main buyer» of Ukrainian cereal. He emphasized the need to review the agreement with Ukraine, citing the significant increase in cereal imports from 3 million tons in 2022 to 10 million tons in 2024. He stressed that the primary sector should not bear the brunt of the EU’s geopolitical issues.
The agricultural organization in the Ebro Valley expressed concerns about the 2027 CAP, arguing that the potential future reform does not align with the core principles of the Common Agricultural Policy’s origins. They strongly opposed this reform, advocating for it to remain an agricultural and common policy. They underscored the importance of increasing the financial allocation, given the sector’s 78% loss in purchasing power over the last 25 years, coupled with stagnant product sales, inflation, and rising expenses leading to financial losses.