"This year, Extremadura's government cancelled all financial aid, informing us that no part of the budget would go to this insurance, so if bad weather came, growers would be totally defenceless against costs and unable to make a profit," explains Miguel Ángel Gómez, manager of Afruex. "We would be talking about 4.2 million Euro in aid for fruit and 8.3 million Euro for the entire agricultural sector (tomato, rice, tobacco, etc.). This financial aid is essential."
Extremadura's Fruit Growers Association (Afruex) is a professional group formed by 90% of all fruit growers in the region. It has 70 direct partners and brings together over 1,000 fresh fruit producers.
"To protect the subsistence of the fruit sector in Extremadura, we at Afruex again ask Extremadura's government to restore the budget intended to cover part of the costs of agricultural insurances," explains Antonio Jesús Chavero Hidalgo, president of Afruex.
"Once again, we have informed the various regional political parties about the need to invest a minimum percentage of this amount, which would be needed to maintain the aid that covers the insurance for a sector generating a great profit for the region, as it is a sector that exports to more than 40 countries in all five continents, with an annual turnover of over 300 million Euro and that creates 5,000 jobs every year, but which would not be competitive internationally without this aid," explains Chavero.
80% of Extremadura's fruit is for export, of which 15% stays in the EU and the rest goes to faraway destinations, such as Brazil, South Africa, Malaysia, etc. "It would be a shame if the sector crumbled just because of lack of insurance considering its huge relevance for the region," concluded M. Ángel Gómez.
For more information about AFRUEX:
Miguel Ángel Gómez (manager)
T +34 924 30 42 00
afruex@afruex.com
www.afruex.com