The Canary tomato industry demands “exceptional measures” Given the reluctance of banks to grant loans.

THEY DEMAND THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES FROM GOVERNMENTS AS OTHER SECTORS.

The Canarian tomato sector demanded “exceptional measures” in the face of an “exceptional” economic situation like the current one., that “has hit the sector hard” due to the reluctance of financial entities to grant so-called campaign credits.

According to the spokesperson for the Federation of Associations of Exporters of Horticultural Products of the Canary Islands (Fedex) Roberto Goiriz, The credits for this campaign have been “limited to the minimum and, in many cases, rejected and annulled”.

On the other hand, President Fedex, Ismael López, states that the average renewal rate is around 40-50% and those that are granted are encumbered with conditions that make them practically impossible to process..

The banks “are being very stingy with the fruit and vegetable sector”, Góiriz said, remembering the 150.000 million euros that the central Executive has made available to financial entities and that has not caused “any reaction towards the productive sector”.

For this reason, They demand from the central government and the Canary Islands “that this sector has the same opportunities as other sectors”, like the car, for which specific measures have been announced. “This sector needs immediate reactivation”, Goiriz said., remembering that it employs 20.000 people on the islands.

However, The long shadow of unemployment is beginning to fall on the primary sector. To the closures of the flower and plant greenhouses, Horticultural productions are already being added. Few months ago, the rhythm is incessant.

So things, The sector remembers that the State owes nine million euros of transport compensation corresponding to 2007 and a similar amount for 2008. This should be “the guarantee for banks” when granting loans.

The manager of the Provincial Association of Tomato Exporters of Tenerife (Vinegar) He stated that the fruit and vegetable sector is “a sector with a future that has given guarantees of success and a viability plan that has been approved by the Parliament of the Canary Islands.”.