Agroaldea
Horticultural employers of both provinces have held a meeting this morning with the president of the regional government, also they attended by the Minister of Agriculture and Deputy Minister of Primary Sector.
The Federation of Fruit and Vegetable Products of the province of Las Palmas, FEDEX, Growers and Exporters Association Tenerife, ACETO, They have met in the morning with the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, to which they have reported the situation of the sector and the demands have moved.
At the meeting, which they were also attended by the Minister of Agriculture, Narvay Quintero and the Deputy Minister of Primary Sector, Abel Morales, President Fedex Aceto, Jose Juan Bonny data offered employment evolution, surface, number of firms and production of the last ten years, clear setback, and what have been the causes of it.
Reasons, Bonny said the arrival of pests and viral diseases, increased production costs, maintaining sales prices, breaches of compensation to transport, competition from third countries and the problems of financing the sector.
In addition, to the above reasons is in addition to climate change is not only affecting the production by the variability of weather conditions in the Archipelago, but it is allowing European productions extend two months on average, shortening the campaign for canaries producers.
The bell 2015/16 It has been closed with a production of 61.750,9 tons of tomatoes and 23.150,3 tons of cucumbers exported. The 54,2% has been destined for the United Kingdom and the 45,7% the continent. The difference from the previous harvest has been a 4,6%.
Among the demands that the sector has moved the president include the payment of the annuity of the aid per hectare of 2011 Strategic Plan; It helps consolidate this 14,000 € / ha. in the new Strategic Plan; pay the POSEI cucumber twice and marketing support in the same manner as in the case of tomato.
Regarding compensation transport, Clavijo sector requests that it be blinde within the Economic and Fiscal Regime and meets the 70% contained in Royal Decree, far from 50% last year or drastic cuts in previous years.
Also, They have moved the president that this compensation would have to get to 100% to be on equal footing with the peninsular producers, and mitigate the effects of insularity and status of Outermost Region. In the same way, urges demand greater efficiency in the phytosanitary control at ports and airports, in order to avoid catastrophes like virus spoon or whitefly.
On the other hand, the president pledged to achieve compensation shielding transport within the REF and to make the necessary arrangements with the new government to be formed to ensure compliance with transport compensation.
Clavijo realized the state of the new Strategic Plan for the sector and stressed the strategic importance continues to Canary, so it will be whatever is necessary for their support from the Government.