UPA demonstration in defense of mountain olive groves

The Union of Small Farmers (UPA) will manifest on Thursday, June 30th, at the gates of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (MAGRAMA), to claim for a top aid PAC of 150,000 euros and allocate the part the remainder of the budget to save the mountain olive groves and less productive. Indeed, on July 1st is the deadline given by Brussels to the Ministry and Autonomous Communities to revise the fate of coupled support CAP, which in the opinion of this organization, “are the only ones that could save the olive grove most needed.”

Since UPA warns that “the future of the sector over the coming years is played”, and therefore wants to “make their voices heard.” “Tempers are hot in olive-growing areas,” they say in the organization. Therefore, it is expected that thousands of farmers to concentrate, starting at 11 am, at the headquarters of the Ministry, taking advantage of the celebration of the Sectorial Conference on Agriculture, to express their outrage at what they consider a deal “unfair “of CAP aid in Spain.

“We will demand that the Ministry of Agriculture and the Autonomous Communities that change the way the CAP aid to higher earners are limited,” sources of UPA have pointed.

The objective of this organization is to raise funds to be allocated to save the olive grove mountain, which is facing higher costs and lower productivity. UPA’s proposal is summarized in applying a cut of 100% from 150,000 euros basic payment, as applied in other Member States and as laid down in EU regulation. From a practical standpoint, this means applying an approximate maximum ceiling of 250,000 euros of direct aid (basic, green and associated payment). “Thus, it explained from UPA, funds will be obtained to be allocated where more are needed, case of mountain olive groves, high slope and low productivity”.

More equitable distribution

In practice the option of UPA means cutting aid to the “richer” (less of 500 beneficiaries, 0.05% of the total) and increase them to small olive growers at high risk of abandoning their activity, which is the spirit with the associated aids were designed. UPA also requests that Spain intended for such aid 15% of the total budget, not the 12.08% which is what is now devoted.

Source: UPA