The field is missing the street

Hundreds of thousands of farmers in all Spain participated on November 21 in Madrid in the demonstration called by three major farm organizations at State level, in demand for solutions to what they see as "the greatest crisis" of the Spanish field. "For the first time in this country, the field has joined really, because we are facing the worst crisis in our history", said the Secretary general of Coag, Miguel López. Assistance overflowed to the organizers, who had anticipated the arrival of some 100,000 producers to Madrid, figure which became too small to massive assistance.

The organizers of the demonstration asked the Government to approach the problems of the sector "as a matter of State"; the autonomous communities, "which pitch"; and political parties, who park their political differences and defend them. The reason that led to the strike of the day before, November 20, day throughout the country and to the demonstration in Madrid, is the intense fall of the income of farmers. Official data show a decrease of 26 per cent of the agricultural income in the past five years, result of a sharp increase in costs (34.3%) and a fall in prices, causing a loss of 124,000 jobs in the sector.

Asaja's President, Pedro cheap, requested the President of the Government to take the sector seriously and help economically "as they have done with the automotive, banking and construction". "Do not ask for money - added the Secretary general of UPA, Lorenzo Ramos-, only laws that allow that the money they are paying consumers is shared fairly, and not in favour of supermarkets, which are lined", criticized.

What most WinCE to farmers and ranchers is the strong difference between the prices that they perceive and that trade charges to consumers. In particular, they accuse big spaces and their capacity to impose agreements to farmers and intermediaries. Why call a law of standard contracts to allow minimum purchase prices of the products linked to average production costs can be defined between the parties concerned.

They are also calling for new rules on trade relations and payment deadlines, as well as a plan of financing the sector and refinancing of debts, with new lines of the official credit Institute (ICO). The demonstration took place in a festive atmosphere free of incidents, with slogans on their banners as 'the field is ruined, we demand solutions' or 'Politicians, we are in your hands'.

Manifesto read after the demonstration of the 21-N in Madrid

"The countryside is ruined: demand solutions"

In the Spanish society of the 21st century, close of one million men and women are part of the active population devoted to agriculture and cattle raising, involving more than 43,000 million euros of final production. The agri-food industry generates Spain 360,000 jobs (14% of the jobs in the industrial sector). Its volume of sales represents 17% of the total sales of Spanish industry. Agriculture with agro-industry is the second economic activity in the country, after tourism.

Farmers and ranchers are active and decisive part in more than 3,500 agricultural cooperative in Spain, generating added value to our products and motor economic in rural areas. In a country of long rural tradition as Spain, progress towards a more modern and more advanced society should ensure the respect and support to the more than 7,000 rural municipalities that occupy 80% of the territory and are home to 25% of the populationmore than 10 million people.

We are here to defend the agriculture and livestock are a strategic sector for Spain. We convened here by our agricultural organizations (Asaja, Coag and Upa), which had been joined our agri-food cooperatives and our communities of irrigators, giving an example of unity and responsibility at a very difficult time for all of you.

The three agricultural organizations of the Spanish field have been able to join your forces because more is that unites you than what divides you. We are sincerely grateful for the countless accessions we have received, which have spilled out and overwhelmed us: associations, local authorities, private enterprises, anonymous citizens, etc. Thank you all.

Why are we here?

Simply because our farms are ruined by lack of profitability, in a situation without precedent in which all our sectors of production are in crisis. This grave situation stems from a profound crisis of market prices of our sunken products and soaring production costs.

In the past five years (2003-2008), the agricultural income real total has collapsed by 26 per cent and we lost 124,000 jobs, which should not be forgotten that they are friends, neighbouring ours, with a face name. At the same time, the decline in home prices is more widespread and more pressing. The mass food distribution puts pressure on the agrifood chain imposing their conditions and prevent the normal functioning of the market. Its dominant position expels the farmers and their cooperatives of this channel of marketing which is becoming more and more, in the only existing channel, not in vain 82% of purchases are made already through it.

We must explain to the citizens for the cost of a café in Madrid to you you can buy: 3 kilos of peaches, watermelons 12, 15 of potatoes, grapes 6.5 or 5 litres of milk. What do you think? Do those of you who can produce as it seeks to distribution, the oranges to 13 pesetas per kilo or oil to 260 pesetas per liter.? Because we are still selling in pesetas. Clear and this knowing that ye have suffered a dramatic increase in the costs of agricultural production, a 34.3%.

The common agricultural policy (Cap)

In the area of CAP, community public support that reaches our farms lost relative weight each year. To cut 10% accumulated after the last reform of the cap on compensatory payments must be add not update according to the CPI, which means a decline of 56 per cent in 15 years. The disappearance of the intervention mechanisms and the application of the basic principle of Community preference contained in the treaties of the EU represent a dismantling of the mechanisms of regulation of market are a strategic sector exposed to massive imports without quality control and food safety and a great volatility in prices and costs.

Because we want to stress that food is the aspect most strategic for a society and to produce food is the key role that we entrusted as farmers and ranchers. This strategic service is of interest to the whole population, especially in a difficult scenario which does provide for the arrival of new food crises globally. Only a strong cap can avoid this risk.

All of the above leads us to a ruinous situation. It is unjust and unsustainable that the price of our products is below production costs.

What are we calling?

A future for agriculture, for men and women that we dedicate our lives to this activity. To this end we ask:

1. Fair prices for our products and regulation of the agricultural markets.

2 Greater transparency in prices of agricultural inputs (fertiliser, electricity, diesel oil, plant protection, plastics, animal feed...) and review of the regulatory framework of the electricity for the farm.

3. A proper tax system:

• increase in compensatory VAT to the livestock sector

• implementation of VAT reduced agricultural inputs

• implementation of a professional diesel fuel exempt from taxes, as it allows the EU

4. A plan of financing and refinancing of the agricultural sector is necessary.

5. Establishment of a solid cap beyond 2013 with a budget of up to date.

6 Should establish a true plan of support for renewable energy that has its basis in the agricultural sector.

7. Support for the agricultural and livestock sector in order to adapt to the consequences of climate change.

8. Implementation of a plan of concentration of supply and cooperative integration that allows to evolve towards a model of cooperative sizing and competitive.

We must reiterate the three competent authorities (European, State and regional) that the crisis in agriculture must also be considered as a State problem and solutions as a matter of State. It is not the time of pulling junk from one to another, but of taking example of the sector and work together to one.

The society we want to convey to each and every citizen must be aware, to not consent to the loss of our agriculture and livestock that would seriously jeopardize food security, which is the first requirement of the population. And we must maintain the spirit and the will to fight because there is no doubt that agriculture has a clear and long-term future, as the basis for food. Now more than ever, as says this old but at the same time current slogan, we must shout with force: ' without agriculture nothing!' and 'the field is the future and the future is in our hands!'!