Grouped around the Civil Movement for Agriculture (MCA) farmers do not accept the subsidies announced by the Government and will take the road cuts forward. There are those who defend the departure of CAP management.
No Alentejo, farmers will move to the borders of Caia, in Elvas county, and the Retreat, in Field Maior, both near Badajoz, as well as to Olivença, Mourao and Ficalho (Baixo Alentejo). In Alcácer do Sal, farmers plan to cut the A2 and move towards Pegões. And in Montemor, there is a view to blocking the A6 at the Montemor interchange and the road that goes to Sines, to cut off access to the port.
Under the motto “Our end is your hunger”, the MCA justifies that farmers “go to Portuguese farms with agricultural machines and other heavy vehicles to fight for the human right to adequate food, for fair conditions and the valorization of the activityâ€, ensuring that they “are united and prepared to defend themselves against tyranny and permanent attack on sustainability, food sovereignty and rural lifeâ€, Remata.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food announced yesterday the creation of a new line of credit to support the treasury in the amount of 50 million.
Several measures were presented, at press conference, where the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Finance were, namely support for the production of 200 million euros to mitigate the effects of drought on agriculture, the creation of a line of credit to support 50 million euros with zero interest rate and a reduction in the tax on agricultural diesel, “of 4,7 cents per liter for 2,1 cents”.
Ãlvaro Mendonça, president by CAP, justified that “the commitment made today by the Prime Minister, to pay farmers the full amount due in respect of the agri-environmental measures for which they applied under the CAP Strategic Plan, no valor global de 65 million, supports CAP's demands and corrects the Ministry of Agriculture's very serious management error, enabling the agroforestry sector to invest in organic and integrated production modesâ€.
Among the farmers there are those who defend the demand to “fire the CAP management. They don't represent us, It has no reason to exist.â€, a source told Lidador NotÃcias.
The Portuguese farmers movement (MIC) promises, Thursday, block roads in border areas and in various parts of the country to stop the entry of food from outside Portugal.
The protests only end, says one of the movement's spokespersons to JN, when farmers “are fully compensated by the Stateâ€. At issue is the payment of support from the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan (PPQ). JN knows that there are police authorities to prevent demonstrations, given the fear of “instrumentalizationâ€, but the farmers' movement guarantees that there will be no riots or violence.
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
