Agriculture: Farmers of the Lower Alentejo complain exceptional and immediate action due to drought
The Farmers Federation of Alentejo says “Government complains Exceptional measures”, because “extreme drought” ali lived “It has caused irreparable damage to agriculture”.
The Federation of the Alentejo Farmers' Associations (Faabu) complained Wednesday exceptional and immediate action by the Government to help farmers in the region to tackle the "unsustainable increase in accumulated losses" due to drought.
in a statement, the federation says "complains the Government Exceptional measures", because the "extreme drought" lived in the Alentejo, "Independently" of rain and weather forecasts, "Has caused irreparable damage to agriculture in the region".
The FAABA "recognizes the Ministry of Agriculture's efforts in taking some measures to minimize the effects of the lack of rain, but urgently consider taking exceptional measures, articulated and sustainability, with practice agility on the ground ".
That is why, concerns, a meeting of FAABA with its associated "was decided to send, matter of urgency, a missive to the Ministry of Agriculture to request immediate support measures beware the unsustainable increase in accumulated losses ".
In the livestock sector, alert, beyond the "lack of water" to water the animals, "Straw reserves and hay for cattle or have been exhausted or are about to run out and rangelands do not exist".
"This combination of factors led to the exponential increase in spending by livestock farmers, many of whom, in despair because, They have had to dispose of part of its effective ", the Mint.
As such, "The Alentejo Farmers understand that a Exceptional aid should be granted, in particular to livestock farmers "and" demand the allocation of a financial amount, repayable, according livestock species, calculated based on nutritional needs of each species ", the statement said.
The FAABA points out that "the current line of credit does not fit the reality of the region", since the amounts available are "very low" and the credit repayment terms "short" and there is "lack of information or sensitivity on the part of banking, a qual, far as it is known, still did not effect any transaction under this measure ".
In the area of ​​irrigated land, "Prolonged extreme drought has boosted the costs related to the consumption of water and energy", situation, "In addition to compromising the quality and quantity of production, It has drastically reduced the gross margins of the various cultures ", alert.
The FAABA "considers that remain current proposals previously submitted" and demands the Ministry of Agriculture to adopt Exceptional measures, namely exemption from the water by the agricultural sector and the viability of the Alqueva water price for neighboring perimeters ".
The federation also "suggests, for the current campaign, maintenance of water price [Alqueva] the values ​​of last year "and asks, as "general measure", that "the exemption and deferral of the payment of social security contributions is granted".
