COAG Asturias has disseminated this Tuesday a press release in which it urges the Government of the Principality of Asturias to immediately activate a specific line of extraordinary aid for drought for agricultural and livestock farms in the region. The organization warns that the prolonged absence of rain and the deterioration of pastures are driving up production costs and compromising the continuity of many farms.
The agricultural organization recalls that on June 18 it formally conveyed its concern about the drought situation to the competent department, to the Cantabrian Hydrographic Confederation, to the Forest Management Directorate, and to the Asturian Federation of Councils. In that letter, COAG Asturias proposed various measures to anticipate the effects of the lack of precipitation during the summer.
However, none of the recipient organizations have given an explicit response to the proposals made by the organization, something that COAG Asturias considers particularly concerning given the evolution of the situation and the difficulties that farmers are facing.
Comparison with Cantabria and grievance between territories
Last week COAG at the national level urged that an emergency zone and urgent aid for forage and water be declared for the communities of the Cantabrian Coast, which has borne fruit in Cantabria with the announcement of extraordinary measures benefiting the agri-food sector.
COAG Asturias cites the actions of Cantabria as an example, which has already activated a specific line of direct financial support under the concept of "Extraordinary Aid for Drought," aimed at alleviating the losses suffered by its producers.
For COAG Asturias, this situation generates a comparative grievance among producers from neighboring territories facing similar problems, which is why it considers it essential for Asturias to adopt equivalent measures adapted to the characteristics of its primary sector.
"Asturian farmers cannot be left at a disadvantage compared to producers from neighboring communities. If there is a tool to compensate for the losses caused by the drought, Asturias must implement it and do so as soon as possible," says the general secretary of COAG Asturias, David Pérez Naya.
Impact on costs and request for urgent meeting
They explain from the organization that the lack of grass forces many farms to increase the consumption of supplementary feed, with the consequent rise in costs, while reducing the availability of fundamental natural resources for extensive livestock farming.
In light of this situation, COAG Asturias has formally requested a meeting with the regional Administration as soon as possible, with the aim of directly conveying to the Government of the Principality a technical proposal for the implementation of extraordinary drought aid for the affected farms. COAG Asturias insists that we cannot wait for the situation to worsen to act.