The regional government of Valencia is calling for citrus and kakis to be included in measures announced by the European Commission to provide financial assistance to growers affected by the Russian ban on EU agricultural imports.
Inmaculada Rodríguez-Piñero, the MEP for the Socialist Party of the Community of Valencia said she was doing all she could to help her constituents and defend the community’s agricultural industry.
Referring to the aid packaged announced by the EU so far, she said: “growers in Valencia does not deserve a national government that is not prepared to stand up for their interests.”
Only tomatoes, carrots, white cabbage, peppers, cauliflowers, cucumbers, mushrooms, apples, pears, table grapes and kiwifruit qualify for financial assistance under the existing measures.
“It is extremely difficult for exporters to find alternative markets just as the new season is about to get underway, and the government is well aware of this,” Rodríguez said. “We will fight for citrus and kaki producers to qualify for aid.”
Rodríguez has called for an assessment to be made of the losses to Valencian producers resulting from the ban to ensure that they are able to claim all the compensation they are entitled to.
Representatives of Valencia's fruit and vegetable industry said the situation in the wake of the ban was becoming 'unsustainable' as the crisis enters its second month. Agricultural unions in the community put the losses at €500m so far. They are calling for Brussels to introduce emergency protectionist measures to halt imports from non-EU countries.
Meanwhile, Proexport said it estimates that Murcian melon and watermelon growers have racked up losses of €35m since Russia closed its borders a month ago. The association said the closure had caused prices to fall by 40-55 per cent, depending on the variety.
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