The Unión Extremadura has demanded from the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Environment, Juan José García, to "wake up" and take charge of the "problems" facing the primary sector in the community.
The agrarian organization has pointed out that, barely 100 days after his arrival in office, the expectations placed on García's management "have faded." "We hope he wakes up and starts to tackle the problems of this tough campaign," it has emphasized.
In this regard, it has highlighted that the current campaign is marked by very high temperatures and extreme dryness that are causing "significant losses" in the farms and a lack of pastures for livestock, to which are added "very high" production costs and prices that do not cover them.
The Unión has also reminded that the campaign started with several storms that caused serious damage in the Extremaduran fields. In light of this situation, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Junta de Andalucía launched specific aid that, in the case of Extremadura, was limited to the Vegas del Guadiana and did not extend to all the affected municipalities.
"The Junta de Extremadura promised aid and has broken its promise. We had significant losses due to the rains in the cherries of the northern part of the region, the ministry is dragging its feet to do nothing," the organization has denounced.
Likewise, it has indicated that, in the face of rising diesel and fertilizer prices, the ministry and several autonomous communities have enabled support for the sector, with special attention to the beekeeping area, while in Extremadura "no aid will be processed."
In parallel, and in light of the drop in wine consumption that has collapsed grape prices, some regions are designing vineyard uprooting plans, while in Extremadura "no action is expected."
Regarding the vaccine against bluetongue, which was previously provided free of charge and facilitated the vaccination of the sheep census, this year it is the farmers who must acquire it and then request the corresponding aid, the organization has criticized in a statement.
In the same way, La Unión has reminded that compliance with the commitment to reduce bureaucratic burdens in the Extremaduran countryside was demanded, for example in the processing for the transport of grapes and olives, and "nothing has been done in this regard."
"That said, the council has spent 1.2 million euros on acquiring 35 new all-terrain vehicles, this seems to be their priority," reproached La Unión Extremadura.
Finally, the organization has emphasized that there was "expectation" among farmers and ranchers in the region to see how the work of the new councilor would be, who arrived in the position with "many hopes," but that trust has been frustrated in "barely 100 days of government."
"Let’s hope the councilor wakes up and starts to tackle the real problems that the Extremaduran countryside has," concluded La Unión.