Carles Peris, a 49-year-old citrus grower from Les Alqueries (La Plana Baixa), has been confirmed again as general secretary during the XVI Congress of "LA UNIÓ Llauradora i Ramadera", which concluded today in Paterna (Horta Nord) under the slogan "Plantem cara, sembrem futur".
218 people attended the meeting, representing all the regions of the Comunitat Valenciana and the different agricultural sectors. The XVI Congress was opened by the conseller of Agriculture, Miguel Barrachina, as the professional agricultural organization detailed in a press release.
The new Executive Commission, made up of ten members, retains alongside Peris the following people: Fernando Durà (40 years old, rice, citrus and persimmon producer from Albalat de la Ribera –Ribera Baixa–); Luis Javier Navarro (60 years old, winemaking grape, tree nuts and olive producer from Venta del Moro –Utiel-Requena–); Paco Benavent (61 years old, citrus, pomegranates, persimmons and olive producer from Bèlgida –Vall d'Albaida–); Arturo Zaragozà (55 years old, dedicated to olive growing in Rossell –Maestrat–); Antonio Gutiérrez (45 years old, vegetable grower from Almoradí –Vega Baja–) and Daniel Carbonell (35 years old, citrus and persimmon producer in the Pobla Llarga –Ribera Alta–).
For the first time, Rebeca Sales (31 years old, tree nuts and oil producer in Albocàsser) joins the leadership; María José Gil (52 years old, dairy sheep rancher and tree nuts and oil producer in Les Useres –Plana Alta–) and José Luis Martínez Trilles (57 years old, sheep rancher and cereal and tree nuts producer).
The organization underlines that the average age of the new executive stands at 48 years, a noteworthy figure compared with the marked aging of the Valencian countryside, where the average is around 65 years. It also highlights the entry of two women farmers and livestock breeders into this governing body.
During his remarks after being reelected, Carles Peris recalled that "since the previous Congress we have transformed the demands that the regions and sectors bring to us into 633 new demands proposals and we have also presented more than 1,000 written submissions to the different Administrations".
Along the same line, he added that "sometimes we present a proposal and they tell us no". "We present it again. We meet, we provide data. We speak with a councillor, minister, director general, mayors, members of parliament, Members of the European Parliament. If necessary, we denounce it publicly and if that still isn’t enough, we go out into the street to protest. This is how we work, regardless of the Government and the officeholder of the moment".
Lines of action for the next four years
The Congress has given the green light to new demands-driven proposals that set the organization’s guiding lines for the next four years. These focus on a CAP that guarantees the continuity of agricultural activity and promotes professionalization; a fair, ethical, transparent, balanced and sustainable market; improving the efficiency of farms; strengthening the stability of agricultural incomes; costs that are manageable for farmers and livestock breeders; generating more added value in production; a determined boost to generational renewal; appropriate social benefits and contributions for professional people; agricultural and forestry activity in its connection with the environment; equitable trade relations with third countries; specific policies for farmers, livestock breeders, foresters and rural areas, as well as measures to adapt to and mitigate climate change.
Together with these resolutions, the plenary unanimously approved the general report presented by the executive commission. This 16th Congress brings to an end a pre-congress process started in February, in which assemblies were held in all the districts and the respective territorial executive commissions were renewed.
The event also takes place in the context of the 50th anniversary of "LA UNIÓ Llauradora i Ramadera". The central commemoration event will be held next Thursday, 12 November, the date on which the organization was officially established.