SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 24th February (EUROPA PRESS) –
Over the weekend, the agriculture sector in the Canary Islands, specifically on the island of Tenerife, voiced their demand for fair incomes for rural areas and expressed their opposition to the existing Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Various organisations including Asaga Canarias, COAG Canarias, Agate, UPA, ASPA, PALCA, the Gran Canaria Livestock Cooperative Society, and the Business Association of Livestock and Dairy Industries of the Canary Islands (AEGIL) led demonstrations to support the sector under the slogan ‘The Canarian field is planted’.
Farmers and livestock breeders highlighted the growing restrictions and limitations imposed by the current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which endanger the future of food production activities.
Tractors, having departed from previous protests in La Orotava and La Laguna, gathered at the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Fairgrounds before setting off around 11:00 a.m. towards La Salle and San Sebastián avenues, concluding their march at the Nuestra Señora De África market. Here, they presented a manifesto and distributed fruit to the crowd.
SECOND DEMONSTRATION BY THE SECTOR
This marks the sector’s second public demonstration, following the protest on February 21st in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria which led to a meeting with the region’s president, Fernando Clavijo.
During the meeting, assurances were given regarding an additional €21 million that the Ministry of Agriculture will provide for the POSEI this year, although an additional €10 to €12 million is still required from either the Canary Islands administration or the Ministry.
Furthermore, the first session of the Drought Task Force will take place in about two weeks, focusing on advancing three lines of support: for exported meat, potato cultivation, and dairy farming.
Additionally, funding for young farmers will be guaranteed this year, with plans in place for land use regulations to be developed until 2024.
