AsocanThe delay is affecting the investment of the flower and plant business in the Canary Islands.

The managing director of the Association of Growers and Exporters of Live Flowers and Plants of the Canary Islands, Asocan, Antonio López, states that “investment aid established through the Rural Development Program (PDR) they don't finish leaving or being summoned”.

In your opinion, this fact together with the current political situation and the administratively null months (July and August), “It doesn't look like anything will come out hopefully until September or October. It must be remembered that the current PDR is from the cycle 2014-2020, and we are halfway through 2015 and there is still not even the regulatory framework approved by Brussels from which they have prohibited subsidizing any investment that is made before the publication of the call”.

For this reason, López states that “the situation is unsustainable.”; It is already difficult to find new investors in this activity, Well, with these delays and uncertainty, harder still; farmers can't wait any longer, and they are not to blame for the mismanagement carried out from Brussels”, assured the employer representative.

“Fortunately, it continues to be met on time., although rushing until the end of it, aid to marketing within the Canary Islands (Posei Interior). This is fundamental for the ornamental subsector in the Canary Islands and generally allows us to continue investing in our sector and breathe a little more after the worst commercial period of the year., end of May and beginning of June, where the market usually paralyzes quite a bit”, explains Lopez.

In addition, He pointed out that the long winter and the sudden high temperatures in the last month “have made flowers and plants bloom uncontrollably, finding ourselves in a short time of having a lack of production, to have a surplus of it that is difficult to place in a market as limited as the local market. This aid has distributed more than three million euros among the producers who, as I have mentioned,, They allow you to breathe and look at the future with a certain optimism”, said the managing director.

López Cappa also highlighted that “Marketing aid has been implemented outside the Canary Islands, This help is received by our clients located in the EU. This is an important tool to attract European customers to our Canarian products.; However, We understand that this tool would have more impact if it were obtained by the producer-exporter, and we have already submitted the proposal to the Ministry of Agriculture.

We must recover our export levels of yesteryear; Export is the main way of growth of our sector, and tools of this type would promote our foreign trade to a greater extent than, at the same time, would help balance the trade balance of our autonomy”, Lopez commented..

Regarding compensation for the transportation of goods, unlike the previous ones, Antonio López said that “this one doesn't come from the EU, but from the state government, and in this case, Yes, the Canarian exporter receives it, although also with delay. This aid is expected with great expectation this year, since we have managed to recover the budget sheet from years ago, 16.500.000 EUR, what it means to expect to collect around 60% of the costs of transporting 2014.

The Government Delegation in the Canary Islands has confirmed to us that the process has already been carried out., They are only waiting for the publication of the standard costs in the BOE to proceed with the payment of this compensation, so it is expected to become effective between July and August.

In addition to producing products of proven and recognized quality, This compensation is what allows us to remain competitive in Europe due to the very high transportation costs suffered by exporters.”.