Serpa farmers protest rising production costs

Farmers in Serpa, Portugal, have organized a slow-moving protest to demand government intervention regarding rising production costs. The Association of Producers of the Municipality of Serpa (APROSERPA) led a demonstration involving approximately 80 tractors and vehicles along the EN260 highway, causing traffic congestion between Vila Nova de São Bento, Serpa, and the Guadiana Bridge.

Association leaders, including João Revez and António Morgado, are calling for a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture, José Manuel Fernandes. They are demanding support measures to address what they describe as “impracticable conditions” for maintaining farms. Specific demands include the removal of the carbon tax and VAT on agricultural diesel, which leaders claim could reduce costs by approximately 40 cents per liter.

Protestors expressed frustration that current prices do not adequately compensate for labor and that rising costs, particularly for diesel exceeding 1.80 euros per liter, make autumn and winter sowing nearly impossible without incurring losses. APROSERPA has threatened to escalate their actions to Lisbon if the government does not engage in dialogue.