The Valencian Association of Farmers (AVA-Asaja) has requested that the Conselleria of Agriculture launch a shock plan, with the participation of the central Government and the European Union, to ensure the short-term continuity of grape producers and to consolidate stable profitability in the coming campaigns, in view of the “dramatic” profitability crisis suffered by winegrowers in the Valencian Community.
In a statement, the organization laments that the Conselleria continues to offer no answers three months after formal help for the voluntary uprooting of vineyards was requested. This measure, as AVA-Asaja argues, would allow older farmers to leave agricultural activity with a dignified retirement and, at the same time, reduce grape production to adapt it to a declining demand.
Among the actions it considers most urgent, the association calls for strengthening control of the value chain in order to comply “rigorously” with the Food Chain Law, which prevents sales at a loss—meaning, below production costs—“as is happening in most of the operations.” It also urges opening disciplinary proceedings when these illegal commercial practices are detected, and proposes that the Generalitat draw up an official study on the production costs of grapes intended for wine and cava in the Community, as other autonomous regions have already done, to determine to what extent current prices do not cover the rising production costs. It also asks for tax advantages that would help cushion the losses of winegrowers.
“We cannot continue producing while we are losing money. The sector is completely ruined. There is no price either in wine or in its by-products. At these times, the costs of fuel and fertilizers are through the roof. Without income, you cannot hire labor. Many families are having a very hard time and are going to abandon their fields. If the administration does not show sensitivity in a situation as serious as this, we will end up with a desert in the interior of the Valencian Community,” warns the Utiel-Requena area manager of AVA, Luis Julián.
Subsidies for rainfed cereal crops
Aside from the situation of the vineyards, the agricultural organization views positively the aid of up to one hundred euros per hectare that the Consell has approved through Decree 180/2026 for dryland cereal producers, with the aim of compensating for losses generated by the restrictions applied during the emergency period due to the extreme risk of wildfires in 2026. This support line responds to a demand from AVA, which worked alongside the managing and technical team of the minister, Miguel Barrachina, to put in place support measures for the sector after a “very negative” campaign.
On the other hand, the association criticizes the absence of direct compensation on the part of the Ministry of the Environment for those cereal growers who, due to the limitations associated with the level 3 wildfire risk, were unable to harvest their fields.