The Parliament president calls for “differential treatment” for the islands and emphasizes the necessity of a unified stance without “political affiliations” in their advocacy.
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 19 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The president of the Canary Islands’ Parliament, Astrid Pérez, appealed to the European Union on Tuesday to provide “differential treatment” for the Canarian primary sector, noting that it is “in decline” and cannot afford a reduction in funding but rather should see an increase.
During her address at the launch of the ‘Conecta Europa Conference’, she acknowledged the “numerous challenges” the primary sector has faced in recent years, prompting her to demand a distinct “voice” within the EU and to stress that there should be no “political affiliations” in its defence.
“We must all work towards the same goal in addressing the additional transport costs and the unfair competition posed by products from third countries that are negatively impacting our processes,” she remarked.
The president reminded those present that the primary sector accounts for 1.8% of the islands’ GDP, and the EU must consider the factors that render the islands unique, such as their remoteness, topography, and insularity.
She pointed out that production has plummeted from 350,000 tonnes harvested in 1977 to just 22,000 in 2022, with cultivated areas also contracting over the last decade, particularly tomatoes and grapes, which have seen declines of 73% and 26% respectively.
Conversely, she highlighted the rise in cultivation of crops like papaya, pineapple, mango, and especially avocado, which has surged by 146% over the past ten years.
Pérez has asserted that the Canarian agricultural sector requires increased financial resources in a context where next year there will be €315.5 million allocated for the islands, alongside a need for at least 44% more funds from Posei.
She believes the archipelago needs to “compensate” for the increased production costs exacerbated by the pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine, which have led to an “exorbitant increase” in inflation. “Our sector relies on Europe; without its support, it could not survive,” she elaborated.
She emphasized that issues such as water scarcity, declining productivity, and a lack of generational transition are significant barriers to agriculture on the islands, with many young people “choosing to leave.” However, she acknowledged there are still instances of families continuing these traditions, like the Cortijo de Pavón cheese factory in Santa María de Guía.
On the topic of women’s involvement in the primary sector, she described it as “fundamental,” particularly in product sales and fishing, mentioning how women from La Graciosa would climb the Famara cliff “with baskets of fish on their heads” to sell in Haría. “We owe them so much,” she emphasized.
The Chamber president also highlighted the significance of science and innovation within the agricultural sector, mentioning numerous professionals engaged in research, such as the company Agua de Bueyes within the Maxofarm Acuícola, SL sector, which is exploring algae-based solutions intended to be “the food for astronauts.”
All insights gained from the event will be forwarded to the European Committee of the Regions and the Conference of Regional Legislative Assemblies.