Spanish agricultural groups call for protests over rising costs

Spanish agricultural organizations, including ASAJA, COAG, UPA, and Cooperativas Agro-alimentarias, are maintaining calls for protests due to rising production costs and declining profitability. Despite government extensions for diesel subsidies, farmers argue the measures do not address fundamental issues such as the high cost of fertilizers and fuel, alongside low market prices for their products.

In the province of Seville, where crops like cereals, olives, sunflowers, and cotton are prominent, the impact of energy and fertilizer costs is particularly acute. While specific dates for local demonstrations in municipalities like Écija or Utrera have not yet been finalized, a coordinated national response is being prepared, which may include a large-scale concentration in Madrid.

Additionally, the olive oil sector is demanding structural changes to restore competitiveness. Proposed measures include stricter sanctions for fraud, enhanced controls on oil quality and traceability, and improved water resource management. The organizations are calling for olive cultivation to be recognized as a strategic economic and environmental asset within Spanish agricultural policy.