Spain (Segovia): ASAJA denounces the ruinous situation in the potato sector with costs exceeding €10,000/ha
The dire situation is due to a combination of falling stock prices and a fuel price that they consider prohibitive for the business.
ASAJA Segovia warns that while farmgate prices are falling, supermarket prices remain largely unchanged. The organization points out that this disparity in profit margins suggests that intermediaries are profiting at the expense of producers. Therefore, they urge the government to enforce the Food Chain Law to prevent sales below the cost of production.
Currently, cultivation costs are around €10,000 per hectare, meaning that optimal yields and fair prices are needed to achieve profitability. The increase in the price of agricultural diesel particularly impacts farms that rely on pumped irrigation, thus raising farmers’ operating expenses.
The organization encourages consumers to check the origin label to distinguish it from the packaging location and to choose local potatoes. Furthermore, they propose the creation of a regional Strategic Plan that includes the primary sector, industry, and government to ensure the long-term sustainability of the crop through coordinated cooperation.
Fuente: agronews.com
