Asaga, COAG Canarias, UPA, PALCA and AGATE are demanding secure access to water, updates to the Posei, and compliance with the food chain.
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 15th May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The agricultural professional organizations (OPAS) Asaga, COAG Canarias, UPA, PALCA and AGATE have expressed criticism this Wednesday towards the lack of action by public authorities in the archipelago, particularly councils and town halls, in resolving the crisis faced by the primary sector.
“The rural areas are in crisis, falling behind in support and prices, and being pushed to the sidelines by the influx of products from third countries. We are unable to compete; the situation is desperate,” said Jorge Pelayo, UPA’s Organization Secretary.
The organisations in question are not ruling out resuming street protests and are turning their focus to the upcoming European elections in order to push for “urgent” measures that could save the farms in the islands.
They have presented a series of up to ten demands to the Canarian institutions, including guarantees on water supply for farmers, updates to the Posei regime, more flexibility in transitioning to the CAP, payment of additional Posei funds, and enforcement of ‘mirror clauses’ for products from third countries.
Additionally, they are calling for streamlining of administrative procedures, action on the stalled Fuerteventura-Tarfaya maritime route, increased food chain inspections and enforcement, better integration of tourism with agriculture, and measures to ensure generational succession.
Theo Hernando, the General Secretary of Asaga, has raised questions about the role of administrations, highlighting delays in processing applications, with licenses taking up to three years to be approved. He also warned that Canarian producers are gradually being forced out of the market.
He criticised the authorities’ actions as “disappointing” following protests a few months ago, which have instilled “uncertainty and dismay” among farmers, some of whom have even lost subsidies due to delays in licensing for construction projects.
In this context, he urged municipal councils to collaborate or seek resources from other authorities to expedite bureaucratic processes, increase the consumption of local products in tourism, and facilitate generational change, especially since 56% of farmers are expected to retire in the next decade, leading to a 40% decrease in production.
Miguel López, General Secretary of COAG in Tenerife, criticised the lack of updates to the Posei regime since 2006 despite rising costs, and expressed bewilderment over the insufficient financial resources due to the standstill in the General State Budget.
He called for “clear and firm commitments” and an end to mere “rhetorical gestures”, citing the surprise at the declaration of a water emergency in Tenerife, which resulted in increased water prices.
He cautioned that “the public is at its limit” and could soon take social action, given the lack of income support in rural areas not covered by Posei, as it is primarily focused on marketing aid. “No marketing, no aid,” he emphasised.
“Strict enforcement of water laws is crucial”
Sergio Rodríguez, spokesperson for PALCA, highlighted the severe water crisis in the islands, particularly in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, attributing the issue to politicians who have failed to act over the past three decades.
He warned of a looming crisis in La Palma this summer and criticised the Tenerife Council’s emphasis on desalination plants instead of resolving pending permits from the Insular Water Council for exploring and exploiting new galleries.
He appealed for more support for private water owners, the acceleration of pending projects, and efforts to rectify water loss in the network – which exceeds 50% in some municipalities.
“Strict enforcement of water laws is essential to avert disaster,” he cautioned, asserting that in the current scenario, priority should be given to supplying water to the population, followed by agriculture, with leisure and tourism being secondary. “I don’t foresee restrictions on hotels and golf courses,” he pointed out.
