One week after the protests, farmers were very satisfied with the meeting with the Minister of Agriculture held in moura. The demands of the men of the land were met. The Civic Movement of Farmers of Baixo Alentejo was born (FLAT).
Contrasting with a quick exit from the Moura City Council Building by the Minister of Agriculture and a laconic statement that the meeting with farmers “went very well. It was very useful”, The men from the land of Baixo Alentejo were visibly very satisfied, justifying that their wishes would be fulfilled “with guarantees given by the Prime Minister, with the approval of the minister”, justified António João Veríssimo, the spokesperson for the now assumed Civic Movement of Farmers of Baixo Alentejo (FLAT).
“The payment of aid for 35% organic production and 255 of integrated production. The letter of comfort that IFAP was going to give us as creditors of certain amounts, should be secondary, because payment will arrive before the letter”, justified the farmer, who assured that “the payment will be as soon as the minister’s time”, concluded.
About the meeting with Maria do Céu Antunes, António João Veríssimo assured that “pressing issues were dealt with today. Aid to combat drought is also guaranteed. Awaiting approval from Brussels”, finished.
Asked whether the protest resulted in a victory over the Government, the MCABA spokesperson was cautious: “We’re not going to throw rockets because none of this is new. We only got what was due to us. We had at our side the entire civil society that understood our fair fight”, materialized.
“We are not against CAP, Confagri or other associations, they are the ones who have to be by our side. They exist because of us. After all with our scream, we can be heard”, leaving the guarantee that the movement does not want to take anyone's place.
“Nothing will be like before. We will continue to live and work in an area and make a living from a profession that we really enjoy. Let's not go out on the streets to sing victory. You have to work with your head, because we have a future ahead of us. But this guarantee remains: nothing will be like before”, finished.
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
