SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 17th April. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The president of the Cabildo of La Palma, Sergio Rodríguez, has urged the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Sovereignty of the Government of the Canary Islands to revise the decree providing assistance to agricultural landowners to compensate for income losses from the 2022/2023 season and the additional costs incurred due to ash removal, citing a lack of adequacy to the sector’s needs.
Sergio Rodríguez has already communicated this request to the Minister, Narvay Quintero, urging that the €10 million aid be earmarked for income loss and seeking additional funds to cover the expenses related to ash cleaning on plantations and fruit. Furthermore, he contends that the aid allocated per kilogram does not address the issue adequately, as it is based on prices from recent years, which have been notably low, according to Rodríguez.
The President of the Cabildo has emphasized that the most effective way to support farmers is by providing an income compensation of approximately €0.52 per kilogram, supplemented later by Posei contributions. Furthermore, he believes it is essential to assist those who have sustained the social and economic burden over the years by maintaining their farms, covering expenses, and supporting workers, asserting that efforts should be duly rewarded upon recovery.
Sergio Rodríguez also raises the concern that the assistance decree “fails to address farmers who did not replant after the eruption, opting instead to maintain their plantations at great effort, even in precarious conditions, resulting in a potential loss of production of about 70%. These individuals are now excluded from consideration and their hard work remains unrewarded with the current assistance package.
Consequently, the President highlights that the extraordinary circumstances on the Island necessitate “extraordinary measures”, criticising the Ministry’s delayed response for its failure to address specific needs that would support the farming community.
He additionally expresses dismay over the disillusionment prevailing within the sector due to the decree’s outcome, labelling it as a severe setback for those who previously had financial stability for their farms but are now facing uncertainty and relying on banks to meet daily expenses. “This situation must be addressed,” insists the President, underscoring that the debt levels of volcano-affected individuals cannot be heightened. Sergio Rodríguez condemns the rise of poverty in the region.
