Spain: Farmers report ineffectiveness of authorities in stopping citrus crisis

The Llauradors Union, a workers trade union, criticized the paralysis in which various working groups, established by the Department of Agriculture, are in just now together with the sector, to promote measures to curb the citrus crisis in Valencia. These groups from the production and business model, the legislative package, one of the CAP and the modernization of the Valencian agriculture, "have not met since February, and others have not even met at all," the Union complained.

As explained by farmers in the Valencian Community, "the production and business model group, whose goal was to define the short and long term citrus model and agree on the instruments that are necessary, has not met since February. "As for
the CAP, whose aim was to draw up proposals for amendments to EU regulations and the reasons why, has not sent word since February. The Valencian agriculture modernization and legislative package group "have not even come to the meetings."

The Llaurador Union emphasizes that the document issued from the Department of Agriculture would have as heading "Do not ask from others what we are not able to do ourselves. A good reflection that remains on paper before the current paralysis of the different groups. As this happens, we are on the threshold of a new citrus campaign without any measures to react against the lack of profitability for producers and with a Spanish Citrus company like Intercitrus (Interprofesional Citricola Española), which is dying and unresponsive" they added.

Current Balance

The balance for the citrus campaign continues to be negative. The last season of 2011-2012, recently completed, shows a loss of 195 million Euro on the previous one. In the first part of the campaign, the data reflects a loss of almost 33 million Euro compared to the previous one and the second one about 163 million Euro. The low prices perceived by producers every year causes this situation, "production costs are on the rise without any chance for the farmer to pass it on to the selling prices of citrus fruits" they concluded.

Source: levante-emv.com