The head of Trade Union Action of the Sindicato Labrego (SLG), Brais Álvarez, has denounced the "attack and criminalization" that, in his opinion, the agricultural sector suffers from the Xunta through the recent order that regulates the use of agricultural machinery during the high-risk fire period, between July 1 and September 30.
In a press conference held this Tuesday, this SLG representative has lashed out at a regulation that he describes as "totally prohibitive and pernicious". He criticizes that the Consellería do Medio Rural "uses" farmers as a "scapegoat for its mismanagement", conveying the idea that producers are responsible for a large part of the fires, even though last year "it was proven" that there were large fires caused by public administrations' work, such as the one recorded in Oímbra (Ourense).
Álvarez also reproaches the Xunta for disseminating the data that agricultural machinery is behind more than 400 fires in the last decade, without explaining that it is a "low percentage in relation" to the total number of forest fires. "I don't think any of us like to start fires," he emphasizes.
At the same time, he warns that this regulation "turns" farmers "authentically into a forest brigade", since, in addition to requiring equipment such as a 400-liter water tank, two fire beaters, and a fire extinguisher backpack, it obliges them to have a person dedicated exclusively to ensuring that "sparks do not fly", which implies additional "labor costs" for the farms.
Main difficulties of the Galician agro-industry
At the press conference in Santiago, both Brais Álvarez and the general secretary of the Sindicato Labrego, María Ferreiro, also reviewed the main difficulties currently facing the Galician countryside.
In relation to the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Ferreiro insists on demanding an increase in the budget for the next period, without re-centralization processes and with support linked to agricultural income. The SLG has already collected more than a thousand signatures in support of its proposal. Likewise, she criticizes that, months after the announcement by Medio Rural about the creation of a working group for the future CAP in the Consello Agario, "nothing is known" about that commitment.
The Sindicato Labrego also denounces the price drops at source suffered by both the dairy and meat sectors, in the face of a "total paralysis" by the Consellería do Medio Rural.
In the case of milk, Ferreiro details that there have been cuts of between eight and ten cents per liter, in a "very worrying" context in which "nothing has changed" since April and the "total imposition" by industries continues.
Regarding meat, the SLG points to a 2.5% reduction in prices at origin, while the amounts paid by the final consumer increase by up to 220% over the price in the field, with intermediaries and industries that "continue to increase profit margins".
To these tensions are added the effects of the climate crisis, such as the expansion of fall armyworm plagues or the decrease of between 30% and 40% in available forage, which drives up production costs for livestock farms.
Criticism of fertilizer aid that excludes Galician farms
Another issue that Brais Álvarez has focused on is the fertilizer aid announced by the Ministry of Agriculture last Monday, from which "most Galician farms were excluded" as they did not include permanent pastures.
He recalls that the union repeatedly conveyed to Medio Rural the need for it to convey this demand to the Ministry, but "there is no record" that this action took place. He also criticizes that the subsidies are directed at farms that apply the most kilograms of fertilizer per hectare, instead of prioritizing those that maintain more resilient and sustainable systems.