Adela Martínez Cachá: “We have worked well in plant protection and our exporters conquer markets”
Adela Martínez-Cachá, Minister of Agriculture of Murcia, tells the main achievements and needs of the sector in that region. Notable advances in integrated pest management, and plans for promotion of agricultural and livestock products. Amid the long drought that lives its territory, insists on water to other regions to “generate wealth and jobs.” Export, small area of Murcia greenhouses compared with neighboring Almería and commitment to organic farming are some of the topics we discussed with the minister.
e-Comercio Agrario: Murcia is one of the leading regions in the implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Is it a way to get meet the reduced residue limits requiring foreign retail chains?
Adela Martínez-Cachá: The Murcia region has been and is a pioneer in the GIP, for which I make comprehensive programs of pest management in collaboration with industry, by the release of millions of useful insects and installing traps alternating with the use of plant protection products with low environmental impact. These technicians led by our Ministry experiences were later copied by other autonomous communities and served to raise awareness for our producers.
From the Department, from the IMIDA (Murciano Research Institute and Agricultural Development and Food) has been making available to farmers the latest developments, they have been seeing the effects have been positive and now any parcel of the Region is the latest in biological control. Farmers are well aware, they managed from chromatic to fight insect traps. This opens up many markets, but also with a warranty and is already in third countries have identified the Region of Murcia as a region that produces safe food. Also this year we have met with the pleasant surprise that the area under organic production has increased. We expected an increase of four hectares, and has finally been around 25,000 hectares. This makes us not only the garden of Europe, but to be a safe garden for Europe.
Regarding the demands of certain market chains, established without any scientific criteria they are not more than a publicity marketing to their customers but to all give greater coverage to the consumer. Exiten not safer than other safe food.
ECA: What are the main destinations of horticultural production Murcia?
AMC: The destinations are virtually all countries, there is no limitation to our products. Our exporters have been conquering markets. It is working hard to open new markets in India and China, and a lot in Singapore. There are no barriers or doors in a globalized market. It has worked very well in crop protection, and therefore we have a lot of work done. So when the door to Murcia products come with many security guarantees and it opens a lot.
“Consumers can be confident that today is consuming the best food products of history both in quality and in terms of food security”
ECA: In the case of lime and stone fruit are products that, unlike vegetables, they can be longer and endure more distant transport. Since the Ministry is encouraging is that these products reach new destinations, not to be just what you already have insurance, which is Europe, the Nordic countries, etc.?
AMC: A clear example of export to countries other hemisphere are the exports of stone fruit and table grapes in South Africa and Canada, which are increasing year after year and for which the Ministry is making efforts intensified during the campaign export, with inspections on plantations as the games of excellent quality that are exported. On the other hand we export mainly to USA lemon, which have a handicap as is the obligation of having to take place in containers with cold treatment to ensure freedom of the fruit fly. We are working hand MAGRAMA to eliminate such barriers, though, ensuring phytosanitary agreements between the two countries. And we are expecting that bilateral agreements with the Republic of China and India are closed for the export of stone fruit and table grapes which will mean the opening of two new destinations of great interest to the Region.
And recently we launched the Bureau of Plant Protection, because undoubtedly when the products leave out most demand is for plant protection. This is the first community to put a Bureau of Plant Health to work with all industry players, all who have something to say. The aim is precisely that we can reply to producers from the Ministry of quickly, so that they have a guarantee that we are going to respond to problems that may arise.
ECA: Differently it occurs when the destination of the product is outside?
AMC: No. Both the qualities required as production standards are the same for both domestic production and export. Moreover, the standards set by the EU as food quality and safety are much higher than those established by third countries. Consumers can rest assured that today is consuming the best food products of history both in quality and in terms of food security. The Ministry has established strict control programs such as use of pesticides and pesticide residues that guarantee the high quality of our production.
ECA: With regard to Latin America, is there any product from the Community of Murcia will be trying to enter there or is still a difficult market for Spain?
AMC: A market which often is a competitor, no doubt. But our products are coming. Perhaps more in the case of vegetables and less in the case of fruit, because that’s where most are competing with us. But there, in that competition, I insist that the issue of plant protection path we walked a very important, very confident strides already, and perfectly installed in the responsiveness of farmers. Therefore there will be some way to go but other markets are now welcoming us with total guarantee.
ECA: With regard to organic production, is increased gradually in the community, the markets are a little more receptive, but still an expensive commodity and, by its ecological condition, a difficult product to bring to third countries. Since the Ministry is being done some support to these companies so that they can get their products to markets that pay?
AMC: We’re betting very strong ecological agriculture. We recently had a meeting with all stakeholders and the response of the Ministry is firm. In our line of RDP (Rural Development Plan), we should not think only of irrigated organic production but also in the dry, which is the strongest in the region, especially nuts, olives and arable. It comes in response to some areas of less-favored region because they are of a rabid dry, a hard dry land, where a very important environmental role in this type of agriculture responds to our farmers is to be maintain these areas. Therefore we do not only going to elect to grant lines are kept, but also to help with a stamp “Murcia Food” because we want organic products reach ever further.
ECA: With regard to comercialiadoras companies, from the Ministry of Public Works has prepared a report that included that existed in Murcia over 600. This causes a very large spray of little benefit, perhaps in the face of the export and selling products in the region. Is there an attempt to join forces in the face of large-scale distribution?
AMC: Yes, because besides the great distribution is united, nothing is atomized. Therefore, they are playing very strong against the fragmentation that exists in the region. That problem exists, we are aware of this and are beginning to take the first steps, but they are very complex steps. The objective is clear and already happens in some regions. Specifically I took my attendance at Fruit Attraction to meet with a large Andalusian company that has already given these strong steps in this direction and are interested in talking with producers Murcia. It is a topic that should go very safe, no one feels that the regional administration is getting into an area that does not belong. What we have to do is create the climate so that they can take steps. Atomization in any case is good in a globalized market.
ECA: So the Ministry was acceptable even between regions and not just between companies in the same region, can be reached agreements in distributing their products.
A. M. C .: I think, moreover, that is natural. Us the other day at the table were facing problems like plant health when a permit for a particular product to the Ministry called for a temporary authorization. In that case, it makes no sense that management is made only from the Autonomous Region of Murcia, when many of our producers also have crops in Andalusia and Castilla-La Mancha. Perhaps it is much smarter than these temporary authorizations are requested jointly by several regions. Because we want to offer this service to farmers and is effective. We will work with a more open mind.
“From the government, we must create the climate so that they can take the necessary steps for the concentration of supply”
ECA: The most complicated issue of Murcia regarding resources is water. At what point are we now?
AMC: We are in a complex and difficult issue because we are living one of the worst droughts in living memory. Undoubtedly grateful for the Government of Pedro Antonio Sánchez to the Government of Spain. Our president has been very vindictive from minute one because it is aware as anyone of the situation in their region. I knew the situation we were in, knew the situation in reservoirs header was getting worse, and therefore was clever and quick to transfer this diagnosis Mariano Rajoy.
For his part, President Rajoy took the glove. In the first weeks of extended drought decree until September 2016. This gives us room to make available additional resources irrigators, but it was not enough. President Pedro Antonio Sánchez kept insisting. So it has achieved something historic is that for the first time the price of desalinated water is subsidized only for this period that we are living. That has allowed the desalinated water can be used at a reasonable price. But we have to keep working and that the next legislature that national water pact that allows the water to reach us is reached.
ECA: What does it take for this pact?
AMC: It takes wanting to solve it. Basin and plans are on the table, they have been made. The hydrographic planficación was something that was pending, that the socialist government in the previous legislature was not able to solve. In four years it has become the work of twelve. And now we know that there is no surplus deficit basins and watersheds. We are not going to ask the DNI to water, but you get the water to the basin, because in this basin the need to eat, not only for drinking.
ECA: The last transfer was held to supply population. Eight hectometres, one of which was for irrigation and to supply the rest of the population. Since in the Tagus basin there are complaints and the Castilian-La Mancha say they want to expand the acreage of irrigated and therefore no water abundance, are maintained from the regional government the idea of bringing water Ebro?
AMC: I think you have to ask technical studies that already exist, and that watershed plans are, that we are not afraid of the word transfer. We do not use euphemisms such as transfer. We have a basin with a structural deficit of 400 cubic hectometres. Desalination plants do not solve that deficit will solve neither, nor production capacity and the cost of producing the water. Then, yes or yes you have to deal with the solution of this basin transfer. There is a law, which is the Memorandum Act, which guarantees under what conditions can transfer from the Tagus. We understand and we respect the status of headwater reservoirs. But that law also guarantees the safety of the donor basin. It is no longer something arbitrary but is regulated by a law. We will have to think about where the water can come.
ECA: That would be the argument that you use to convince the Castilian-Manchego the real reasons you have in this watershed?
AMC: I think I need to explain and perhaps sit down and talk more. But the Law of the Memorandum is nothing new. It is a law in the five regions and the National Government agreed. Therefore, we must continue moving forward with plans basin to see how to solve the problem of generating a deficit basin with the water we use in a reasonable manner and make a fantastic management, management that does not have any but. We use 100 cubic hectometres from the cleaning, 17% of non-conventional resources, very distant from what happens in other basins. We are an example of accountability in the use of water, but we need water to bring the rest of Spain wealth and jobs.
ECA: One of the arguments that flies the regional government of Murcia is that 70% of horticultural production in this country out of here, and that the transferred water is used for that use and for human consumption. What arguments used by the other autonomous communities to oppose the transfers?
AMC: They make electoral use. Whenever a socialist government coming to power of an autonomous community or the government of the nation begins what has been called “water war”. But we, from the Government of the Region, will continue to work with our irrigators to provide solutions. And we hope that in the elections of December 20 regains the Popular Party, because it is the only government that has provided solutions to water issues. Serious solutions, listening to everyone and strong technical reports. And of course we are concerned with the statements we hear how we will not worry. All we can do is work, not going to throw us in the lead holders.
ECA: The Regional Assembly has agreed, in the Special Water Commission, not politically the issue of water use. Does the fact that the various political forces in the region go to a not a lever for improving relations with other communities in this regard? Why, for example, act as a bloc with other affected areas as Alicante or Almeria?
AMC: Last week came to the region national leaders and is devastating to hear their statements. Citizens leader speaks of a transfer just to mouth and makes no mention of the Tajo-Segura in this region when 100,000 jobs depend on this transfer. Therefore, we can expect little Citizens. PSOE leader does not speak of the Tajo-Segura, and makes references that will solve the issue of water if it comes to the Government of the Nation, but all say how. Therefore, concerned with the issue of water if the Popular Party wins. Because in this region all Murcia the issue concerns them most, and back out in the polls, is water.
ECA: This is a topic that is used as a weapon but that when it comes to government nobody wants to touch.
AMC: Indeed. And you have to be brave, as have the President of the Government and Rajoy in response to the worst drought the region has undergone.
“We are an example of accountability in the use of water, but we need water to bring the rest of Spain wealth and employment”
ECA: The number of hectares of greenhouse in the region has dropped. Why not end this mode to be profitable here and another in the neighboring province, Almeria?
AMC: A large number of hectares of greenhouse in our region have traditionally been aimed at tomato crop in the coastal strip. This culture, for various reasons is, in reconversion to other crops as is the case of fruit, grapes and subtropical crops and this is the reason for the fall of the surface of greenhouses.
ECA: In recent years, banks have offered many new financial products for the food industry. Is this in the interest to manage aid under the CAP, or means that banks are going directly to the food business, with the risk of a kind of agricultural real estate bubble like?
AMC: First we must distinguish two aspects. On the one hand financial products to large cooperatives and marketing the food industry and other products targeted to producers as direct beneficiaries of CAP subsidies and mostly materialize in the advancement of the amount of aid without financial risk for the Bank. Hence, we can conclude that the management of CAP aid is not conditional in any case the existence of new financial products, which may cause an imbalance in the financial sector,
It is true that in recent years of crisis, large financial institutions whose business was traditionally focused on investment banking have redirected its activities towards commercial banks in the food sector to be a strategic sector of the national economy and virtually the only He has maintained a firm position during the crisis. Here are financial products to support the major trading companies, both as a commercial cooperative in nature. This preferential financial support, among other things, is used by these companies to retain the permanence of its partners in the business structure.
ECA: What about the Food Stamp Murcia?
AMC: It is a subject that by speaking with the president and with large exporters that are in the region of Murcia, what better flag to Region Region and sell our fruit and vegetable production, our meat production which are also leaders? Our products reach the cupboards and tables around the world. That is the best introduction to the region. And often, when they peaches, broccoli, etc., have to rummage through the label to see where it comes from. We believe a brand of quality assurance, that when viewed will be clear that is Murcia and Spain. That is what we are working and will soon present our president: Food of the Region of Murcia.
ECA: The Ministry also prepares the protection of some livestock species, such as the Murcia-Granada goat, andthe Murcia flat Murcia chicken. It will have some support from the EU. Will they be for promotion, to increase production or to create new cabins?
AMC: We have united for the first time these indigenous breeds of livestock, IMIDA researchers and universities, and renowned gourmet in the region under the aegis of the regional government. Because we want to value these native breeds and that Murcia cabin, which gourmets know the product and those who produce them, and from another point of view, to have an open line for ranchers feel protected to keep betting. They are very small productions and therefore very marginalized.
For example, in the case of sheep montesina there heads only in the region 500 and 500 in Andalusia. We must help farmers not to stop producing. We are talking about the black turkey, chicken Murcia. They are almost anecdotal, but we want to continue to give the researchers data which are of posistivo these meats, which gourmets know and enter it on their menus, and finally that farmers feel supported to continue betting. AND SMALL STEP giving more than the CIFE (Center for Integrated Agricultural Training and Experience Lorca), reference center in population, our school can go and know Murcia races.
ECA: Any idea of promotion only for livestock?
AMC: Yes, the sector is much needed. This sector, as Tejerina said the minister, who has adapted to everything and also strongly. Pig data are impressive. Continues to increase the number of countries to which comes the pig. Continues to increase the safety with which it arrives, the health of our pork is enviable. It is a sector that has great muscle and you also need to help them. So we want that food stamp Murcia also will protect him.
