Farmers in protest, the M5S Calabria attacks: “Over 50 million from the EU and the Region: when will they arrive?”

“The protest of Calabrian farmers has been going on since September 28th and cannot continue to fall on deaf ears. It demands answers from all the institutions. Those who produce what we eat every day have to pay increasingly expensive diesel, energy and fertilizers, while their products are paid less than what it costs to produce them and they have to compete with imports from countries outside the European Union that do not respect the same rules. So the agricultural system no longer holds up.” The Calabrian M5S spokespersons Pasquale Tridico, Vittoria Baldino, Anna Laura Orrico, Riccardo Tucci, Elisa Scutellà and Elisabetta Barbuto declared this in a note. On the crisis in Calabrian agriculture, the M5S announces that it has presented three questions: to the European Commission, to the Chamber of Deputies and to the Regional Council.

“The European Union has awarded Italy 45.6 million euros in extraordinary aid to compensate for the increases in fertilizer and energy prices – explain the M5S spokespersons. By 30 September the Government had to communicate to Brussels who it will go to, with what criteria and in what timeframe. We asked the Commission if Italy has done so and how much it will receive for Calabrian companies. But the problem cannot be solved only with aid. We also asked that the revision of the directive on unfair commercial practices explicitly prohibits force farmers to sell below production costs and that rules on the origin and controls of olive oil become more effective.

What did Minister Lollobrigida communicate to Europe? How many of those funds will go to Calabria and when will they be paid? The Government has already adopted a decree for the implementation of aid but farmers need to know when the resources will be available – underline Tridico, Baldino, Orrico, Tucci, Scutellà and Barbuto. We also need government interventions against the high cost of fuel, energy and fertilizers, more effective controls on unfair commercial practices and on the formation of prices along the supply chain. For this reason we also asked for the urgent opening of a discussion between the Government, the Region and agricultural representatives. Those who produce cannot be the weakest link in a supply chain in which everyone profits except the farmers.

And the Calabria Region must also assume its responsibilities. The Occhiuto Council has approved a 15 million euro intervention against the high cost of fuel. To understand how insufficient this commitment is, just look at Sardinia, where the council led by Alessandra Todde has allocated 60 million euros, of which 25 to support farmers against the high cost of fuel and fertilizers. Faced with a crisis of this magnitude, fifteen million risk being a completely insufficient response.

We have brought the voice of Calabrian farmers to Brussels, Rome and Catanzaro so that no institution shirks its responsibilities. Between the European aid intended for Italy and the resources announced by the Region there are over 50 million euros but clarity is needed on how much will reach Calabrian companies, to whom and above all when. Farmers cannot continue to work at a loss while waiting for answers”, conclude Tridico, Baldino, Orrico, Tucci, Scutellà and Barbuto.