A movement whose motto is: “Our end is your hunger” issued a statement yesterday leaving a list of demands that they want to see satisfied, leaving other demands to the next Government.
The Portuguese farmers' statement is in full, at a time when the discontent of the “Men of the Earth” is increasing, there are already people who talk about concentrations, slow marches and demonstrations.
FULL PAYMENT OF AID TO ORGANIC AGRICULTURE AND INTEGRATED PRODUCTION ECO-SCHEMES: At a time when the Government announces a budget surplus in 2023, it makes no sense to tear up contracts with farmers, a 2 days of fulfillment of the same (by the Government) cutting the amount initially committed by more than ⅓. We are threatened by climate change and it makes no sense to penalize the most environmentally friendly eco-regimes, to the detriment of others. After giving directions to farmers towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly path, These are exactly the measures where the Government cuts support. Exceeding what the Government initially estimated should be a reason for rejoicing and not for penalizing the sector.
UNIFORMIZE SUPPORT BETWEEN STATES FOR NATURAL DISASTERS: It makes no sense on a Peninsula with open borders, a Portuguese farmer receives much less than his Spanish neighbor. The drought is the same, borders are open and competition is direct. The Schengen area was created to standardize, not to accentuate differences.
SUPPORT THE INTERIOR, IMPROVING CONDITIONS FOR THOSE DEDICATED TO RAINBOW AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK RAISING: In addition to small agriculture, which the Government knew how to support and very well in this PEPAC, Livestock production and rain-fed agriculture must be taken into account, whose viability was compromised by an initial cut in 30/40% in relation to the previous PDR2020, and which, in addition, now takes a cut of 35% about the 70% that remained... The rainfed area is the largest percentage of the Useful Agricultural Surface and without it, the country will have even more desertification in the interior, and many more fires. Increased aid for rainfed cereals and livestock production in Sequeiro.
URGENTLY CREATE DRAIN CHANNELS FOR AGRICULTURAL AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS: It is unacceptable at a time when national livestock farming is struggling with a health crisis (hemorrhagic fever) and with an embargo on exports to Israel and the subsequent outbreak of war in the Middle East, the Government, instead of diversifying our sales, does not even create an alternative channel for the flow of our products.
THE REMAINING CLAIMS WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE NEXT GOVERNMENT: However, we need a Ministry led by someone who actually understands agriculture and who wants Forests and Rural Development to return to where they should never have left.
Farmers denounce the incompetence of the Ministry of Agriculture and demand payment of the community aid to which they are entitled.
Under the same motto: “Our end will be your hunger”, farmers have been blocking the entrances to Paris since Monday. Blocking of the main entry routes to Paris began in the afternoon of that day. Class fears losing competitiveness and is against European Union measures. Malaise spreads to several European countries.
The “trigger” of the French protest could at any moment spread to Portugal.
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
