The agricultural organisations ASAJA, COAG and UPA have issued a statement reporting that an urgent meeting has been requested to the Government delegate in Andalusia, Sonia Ferrer, and the delegate for Agriculture, José Manuel Ortiz, in order to be informed about the progress made in the application of the measures needed by growers in El Ejido, who were affected by hailstorms, so that they can repair the damage on their greenhouses and make preparations for the spring campaign, as the planting should start in January.
According to the statement, "it has been almost a month and no answers have been given yet. Growers have expressed their concern to us, as they need to clean and repair the greenhouses to be able to continue working. In the meeting that took place last Wednesday at El Ejido's town hall, which was not attended by the delegate for Agriculture, the delegation's technicians stated that the measures are being handled by Andalusia's legal service department, but are still in a draft stage. Growers need answers and we need for those measures to take shape immediately, so that they can rebuild their greenhouses with the certainty that they will receive the promised financial aid."
It is also reminded that "our financial position is not solid enough to face the rebuilding of our greenhouses. Losses amount to around 100,000 Euro per hectare, and without aid from the Administration it is unlikely that financial institutions will lend us the money."