The Coordinator warns of the problems that may be caused by the lack of manpower in the field and announces that it has begun to collect data in this regard
That the European Union knows the special characteristics of the Region of Murcia in agricultural matters is one of the priorities of the Coordinator of Agricultural and Livestock Organizations, COAG.
Its president, Miguel Padilla, takes stock of the first half of the year highlighting the importance of developing a Strategic Plan for the Secano "for which we will begin to meet with the MEPs in September, according to the commitment we have."
COAG wants to work in Brussels in a multidisciplinary document focused on the survival of all rural areas that exist in the region, facing measures aimed at climate change and from a more than regional vision, "with Almeria, Albacete and Alicante, in that vision that we all have of the Southeast Spanish ».
The reform of the CAP is another of the concerns expressed by the Coordinator, who sees the possibility that the classification of the Murcia Region is reduced from Europe and, with it, the European funds that reach the sector every year.
In particular, Miguel Padilla said that "we could go down from the current 63% to 50%, which would be a catastrophe that would ruin the incorporation of young people into agriculture and other initiatives".
If this happens, we will need the Autonomous Community to assume these amounts.
On water, the main concern of farmers, Padilla takes the opportunity to remember that "during the nine months that the Transfer was closed last year we went ahead thanks to desalination, which has shown us that we must take advantage of all the resources at our disposal, without renouncing any of them »and shows his confidence that the Law is fulfilled and the transfers that the regulations mark are received.
Another concern expressed by farmers and ranchers is the lack of labor in the field, especially in areas of maximum production.
"It is paradoxical that in the employment offices thousands of unemployed are registered and we walk asking for labor, we understand that the field is hard, but the situation can be critical to the point of needing the intervention of the regional and national administrations" Padilla, while announcing that it has begun to collect data in all companies in the sector to have real figures in September.
The president of COAG has also highlighted other issues of concern to the sector such as the damage that wildlife (wild boar, ibex, raccoons and rabbits) are causing in crops "that are very poorly covered by insurance" and calls for special measures to control these populations "or that compensate for the real losses, if they do not want to regulate the wild fauna".
On the prices of crops and livestock, Padilla has highlighted the problem of watermelon, broccoli and artichoke, mainly, "where we have three years of real disaster" and says that "this summer has artificially interfered in prices by increasing the stocking with products imported from other countries outside the European Union, even though there is practically no food security ".
The rest of production has suffered several ups and downs throughout the winter season, with outstanding data such as the estimated reduction in almond production by 18% this year, losses in cereals and the damage it has caused to cattlemen
The plague of the wasp in the almond trees, the possible plagues that the heat wave can bring to the vineyards, and the unequal behavior of the prices in general have also been protagonists of a press conference where once again it has been insisted that The export of beef and sheep to European markets is saving a sector where the pig has barely begun to recover this month.
More phosphate in the Mar Menor
On the Mar Menor has been expressed the head of COAG in the Field of Cartagena, Vicente Carrión, who has indicated that amendments have been submitted to articles 7, 8 and 14 of the Law of Urgent Measures of the Mar Menor, around the use of manure, irrigation perimeters and the use of nitrates.
Carrión has specified that "on August 14 the measures on nitrates come into force that, if maintained, prevent organic farming because one of their main methods of soil disinfection is made with fresh manure and the Law states that manure must deliver to a manager who behaves ».
The head of COAG in the Campo de Cartagena has stressed that "we do not want to change the spirit of the Law, but it does allow us to continue carrying out our activity".
The same situation presents the Project Zero Discharge of the Ministry, where COAG participates in the joint drafting of allegations by various sectors and under the direction of the Ministry of Agriculture.
"It is essential that the eviction be carried out in the plots, in those wells that have authorization, and denitrify the rejection of the desalination plants also on the farm itself," says Carrión, adding that "all of this regardless of whether a necessary and indispensable brine product to transfer the fluids to the Mojon and there to return to denitrify them to make a discharge in conditions to the Mediterranean Sea ».
Vicente Carrión has indicated that both the Ministry Study and the Regional Law "refer to practices that were developed 30 years ago but are now in disuse and we are surprised that many of the measures refer to measures that are already being applied , since only by complying with the code of good practices in agriculture and the current nitrates directive would be sufficient ».
The person in charge of COAG in Cartagena indicates that "nitrate levels in the Mar Menor are being kept below what is allowed, but what increases is the level of phosphate, which does not belong to the agricultural sector, but to the treatment plants of the Sea. Less".
Vicente Carrión has indicated that "more than fifty percent of the homes in the area continue without connecting to the sewerage network of their respective municipalities, operating with septic tanks that seriously damage the Mar Menor, since phosphate and heat are the guilty of the brown color of the water ».
José Miguel Marín, vice president of COAG Región de Murcia, also participated in the press conference.
Source: COAG Murcia