Perishable products at risk of being destroyed and an entire year of work that could be compromised. This is the alarm raised by Confagricoltura Reggio Calabria on the effects of the hauliers’ controls on the agricultural companies of the Gioia Tauro plain. “Despite the guarantees of the Prefect of Reggio Calabria and the meeting with Minister Salvini, the protests of the hauliers and some trade unions in Calabria continue to prevent the return to normality”, the organization states in a note. «For the agricultural companies of the Gioia Tauro plain, every hour that passes increases the risk of very serious economic damage».
The fear of new blocks along the way
The concern mainly concerns fresh, fruit and vegetables and other perishable crops, which require timely distribution and reliable connections with the destination markets. A sector which, underlines Confagricoltura, is already highly exposed to logistical and commercial difficulties. The problem, according to the organization, goes beyond stopped trucks: even vehicles capable of leaving would risk being blocked again during the journey, compromising deliveries and the integrity of the transported products. “Even if it were possible to leave, logistics companies and operators would find themselves faced with unsustainable uncertainty,” the note highlights.
«Delay can make the goods unsellable»
«For perishable products, time is a decisive variable. Delaying a delivery could mean compromising a supply and suffering economic damage that is difficult to recover”, warns Confagricoltura Reggio Calabria. In the worst case, the organization adds, the goods could become unsellable and end up wasted. «This is the scenario that we must avoid: not only the loss of individual loads, but the risk of economically compromising an entire year of work».