Members of Unaproa, the Italian National Union of Fruit and Vegetable Producer Organisations, have called a general strike for Monday, 20 October 2008 in protest at continued uncertainty over the future of a number of the union's members.
Despite having a combined annual turnover that has risen from €1.5bn to €2.7bn in the last few years, a number of Unaproa's 149 member organisations are currently facing the possible risk of closure as a result of liquidation, according to the organisation.
In a statement, Unaproa officials revealed they had joined up with regional trade unions Conferderdia, Flai-Cgil and Fai-Cisl in announcing a strike for 20 October.
Representatives of the unions will also stage an official protest today outside the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests in the Italian capital Rome.
'As the figures suggest, the Unaproa supply chain continues to grow and represents an extremely vital sector for our country's economy,' said a spokesperson. 'The union's employees are continuing to offer its members all necessary support.'
Producer organisations (PO) linked to Unaproa have also been called upon to present detailed financial plans that will offer guarantees of future expansion.
Meanwhile, Italian Minister of Agriculture Luca Zaia has announced plans to put farmers at the centre of Italy's economic system.
Speaking in Cernobbio at an international forum organised by Coldiretti, Mr Zaia said reforms to the Italian agricultural system would be based on five key strategies.
'There are five cornerstones underpinning our plan,' he said. 'These are to recover opportunities missed in Europe; to put agricultural companies at the centre of the economic system and political agenda; to create conditions for a new deal between producers and consumers; to defend consumers from all forms of piracy; and to create conditions in which all areas of the farming system can be competitive.'
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