Much of Spain’s horticultural sector appears poised to takepart in an agricultural general strike from 20-21 November, along with a majordemonstration in Madrid on 21 November to demand action over a range of seriousproblems currently facing the sector.
The events, which are being co-organised by Spanishagricultural associations Coag, Asaja and UPA under the title MovilizaciónAgraria 2009, will seek to pressure the Spanish government into acting overhigh production costs and poor returns, among other issues.
The organisations will also look to highlight what theyclaim is inaction on the part of Spain and the European Union to tacklethe “commercial dumping” of tomatoes by Morocco in Europe at far below agreedlevels.
According to Coag Almería, as recently as last week Moroccanexporters were continuing to ship tomatoes to Europe at below the minimum entryprice established by an existing agreement of association between Morocco andthe EU.
Coag Almería’s Andrés Góngora told El Almería that thepresence of the Moroccan tomatoes in Europe over the last two weeks had causedthe price of Almerían tomatoes to fall by almost €0.50 per kilo.
Mr Góngora told the publication that Spanish tomatoproducers would be seeking a reaction from the country’s agriculture minister,Elena Espinosa, while Coag was also continuing to appeal to the EuropeanCompetition Tribunal to declare on the legality of the exports.
“They need to open an investigation and impose sanctions onnon-EU countries that are carrying out fraudulent sales or are not complyingwith the terms of agreements of association,” he added.
