The proposals put forward by the European Commission for the EU’s next budget period could have devastating consequences for agriculture in the Canaries, according to a leading sector body.
Up to 30,000 farmers and other workers could see their livelihoods placed at risk if the recently-unveiled proposals are approved by Member States, warns the influential ASAGA-ASAJA association, which represents the interests of many farming businesses in the Canaries.
Spokesman Theo Hernando says that the likely cuts to direct aid to farmers and subsidies for rural development programmes will further damage a sector which is already facing serious difficulties due to competition from countries such as Morocco and from major banana producers in South America.
A further problem is the lack of interest on the part of younger generations to take up farming, an issue that will be exacerbated if current incentives are slashed under the revamping of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy which is a likely consequence of the budget proposals for 2028-2034.
ASAGA-ASAJA are pinning their hopes on Spain, France and Portugal being able to persuade the other Members States to continue to allow special treatment for the EU’s outermost regions, which include the Canary Islands, in recognition of the difficulties their economies face as a result of their geographical remoteness and special circumstances as islands.
“If the funds for key questions such as rural development are not ringfenced, incentives for young farmers and for the purchase of new equipment could disappear. However, there are still two years of negotiations ahead and hopefully the sector will manage to secure a better outcome than the one that seems likely at present”, said Hernando.
