More than 100,000 members of Spain’s agricultural and fresh produce sector are expected to take part in a major demonstration tomorrow (21 November) in Madrid to demand action from the Spanish government over “the worst crisis in the sector’s history”.
According to organisers, the Madrid march is being preceded by a two-day general agricultural strike across Spain, which begins today (20 November) and is likely to feature blockages of major road arteries by tractors and other vehicles.
The events, which are being co-organised by Spanish agricultural associations Coag, Asaja and UPA under the title Movilización Agraria 2009, will seek to pressure the Spanish government into acting over high production costs and poor returns, among other issues.
The organisations will also look to highlight what they claim is inaction on the part of Spain and the European Union to tackle the “commercial dumping” of tomatoes by Morocco in Europe at far below agreed levels.
Tomorrow’s march will begin in the Plaza Cibeles before moving through the city to the headquarters of the Ministry for the Environment and Rural Affairs, where the journalist Paco Montesdeoca will read out a manifesto on behalf of the sector.
