Livestock in Tenerife resists the crisis of rising prices. The cabin and farms on the Island have grown slightly in the last three years, except in rabbit farming. It is affirmed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Cabildo de Tenerifewhich is based on data from the Association of Farmers and Ranchers of Canary Islands (Asaga). However, the group itself, which denounced the inequality of aid with respect to Gran Canaria or Fuerteventura a few days ago, uses other statistics with longer reference periods. This was explained by its general secretary, Theo Hernando. According to figures from Government of the Canary Islands “During the period 2014-2021, 33% of the island’s farms disappeared and there was a 9% reduction in cattle heads.” Both organizations, the public and the private, analyze different periods with correct numbers.
Javier Parrilla, island councilor for the primary sector, points out that these data are those provided by Asaga and that the conclusions are derived from them. The PSOE politician criticizes the “disastrous management model of the previous government group of Canarian Coalition» which, he assures «caused between 2014 and 2019 the disappearance of practically a third of the cattle herd de la Isla (26%), with a decrease in the number of cattle heads of more than 16 percent”. Parrilla appreciates what he has done against this government: “Not only have we managed to stop the plummeting of farms, but the cabin has increased by 9.5%.”
Goals
Two objectives have guided the Government of Peter Martin: promote the sustainability of the productivity of the livestock sector and give greater business confidence. “Although the situation in the sector continues to be complicated,” the counselor acknowledges, “a notable recovery is evident.” In a context, moreover, marked by the economic crisis of the pandemicthe war in Ukraine and the increase in the price of the light and feed. Parrilla admits that in the last three years have closed small farms with lower profitability, but the cattle herd has increased. He understands that “there has been a concentration of heads, more encouragement to companies and greater professionalization.”
Criticism of CC
He does not forget to refer to Parrilla to Coalición Canaria, the main opposition party, which he considers “orphaned of ideas because it only wants to block and the primary sector of Tenerife he does not need it”. Parrilla sentence: “When we entered the Cabildo in 2019 we found a budget item for the sector of 2.3 million euros.” Remember that in 2022 “we allocate 4.8 million only in aid for food, plus another 1.3 subscribers this year.” However, the counselor stresses that «we are aware that the situation in the sector remains complicated; That is why in 2023 we will allocate almost 6 million for food.
“The sector asks for direct aid, and I understand it, but the model is to save costs”
cattle
According to the attached table, between 2014 and 2019 the head of goats fell by 15.9% (from 37,253 to 31,305) while farms went from 343 to 229. More than a third on the island disappeared (-33.2%) . Between 2019 and 2021 it went from 31,305 heads to 34,316 (+9.6%). In addition, the drop in farms was halted with 224. As for cows, in the six years prior to the pandemic it fell by 11.1% (from 4,078 to 3,624) and more than 20% of farms disappeared (from 252 to 197). Between 2019 and 2021 a recovery was registered, going from 3,624 heads to 4,802 (+32.5%), to far exceed the figures for 2014 in 181 farms. As for the heads of sheep, they fell by 10.8% (from 6,695 to 5,970) and more than a third of the farms disappeared (from 168 to 114). Between 2019 and 2021 the herd has recovered by 3.6% (6,185) and farms have remained at 102. Pigs, for their part, went from 27,441 heads to 21,919 (-20%) between 2014 and 2019 , reference date for being prior to the health crisis. and farms from 118 to 84 (-29%). In the last three years the number rose 7.3% (23,482) and the fall in farms was halted with 82. The numbers of birds fell from 2014 to 2019 by 2.3% (from 1,454,465 to 1,488. 228) and farms by 10.6% (from 141 to 126). In the 2019-2021 period, however, they increased by 17.7% (1,752,282) and 122 farms were counted.
In the rabbit field (rabbits) the figures were already dramatic between 2014 and 2019 when the heads went from 26,293 to 15,540 (-40%) and the farms from 49 to 28 (-42.8%). From 2019 to 2021 the number of heads decreased by 38.9% (9,485), although the number of farms stabilized (25). Asaga’s report does not include the beekeeping sector data (bees), but according to the Registry of Livestock Farms between 2015 and 2019 the number of hives decreased by 15% and farms by 15.4%. Between 2019 and 2022, however, it went from 15,705 to 16,338 (+4%) and farms reached 623 (+6%).
“If the year with the most heads is compared with the current figure, the balance is very bad”
another vision
Theo Hernando, general secretary of Asaga, believes that “the key is the range of years to study.” He acknowledges this slight growth since 2019, but understands that “to know the true reality of the sector, you have to compare with 2014 and even with 2000.” Between 2016 and 2021, he adds, “there is a significant drop” although this latest upturn “puts us at the 2015 level.” He predicts “very negative” data for this year. Only “animal sacrifices” have increased, he argues. For example, he continues, “they have gone up 26% in goats or 37% in sheep.” Hernando compares with the maximum years in number of heads and exploitations, according to species. Regarding the best of the goats, 2005, “the decrease is 48%.” Pork had its great moment in 2002 “and since then it has dropped by 47.5%.” Where the balance is “disastrous” is in the rabbits that “have practically disappeared from the Island.” From the maximum in 2008 to the present “with a brutal drop of 91.2%”.
Imbalance
Asaga denounced a few days ago that the farmers of Tenerife benefit “less” than those of other islands in the extraordinary aid for food due to the increase in the price of fodder. In addition, Asaga demands to expedite the processing and payment. They await “since March” the exemption of the rates of the Insular Slaughterhouse. Javier Parrilla refers to the legal difficulties of a process that “will soon be a reality.” He also values: “I understand that they plan to increase direct subsidies, but the Cabildo model saves costs more than gives money.”
