Catalan farmers protest in Barcelona over rising production costs

Hundreds of Catalan farmers mobilized with tractors and buses to protest in Barcelona, demanding structural reforms to address a deepening crisis in the agricultural sector. Organized primarily by the Unió de Pagesos union, with support from ASAJA and other agricultural groups, the demonstration involved columns of tractors traveling from various regions including Alt Empordà, Terres de l’Ebre, and Tarragona.

The protesters are demanding urgent measures to combat rising production costs, specifically citing the surge in prices for fuel, energy, fertilizers, and animal feed. They are also calling for protection against unfair competition from imports, assistance for climate change impacts, and solutions for livestock diseases and wildlife damage.

Key demands include emergency financial aid—ranging from 8,500 to 17,000 euros for small professional holdings—as well as tax reductions on agricultural diesel and lower VAT for production. Demonstrators targeted several government institutions, including the Spanish Government Delegation, the Department of Agriculture, and the Generalitat de Catalunya, seeking to ensure the long-term viability of professional farming and generational renewal in the sector.