Zaragoza (EFE).- The Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas, has highlighted the increase in basic aid to recipients of the CAP of 4.1% and associated aid of 33%, basically to the meat production sector , animal and dairy, which represent about 42 million euros more.
In total, the around 37,000 recipients of the CAP in Aragon receive 450 million euros as a result of the strategic plans, as recalled by the Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas, in statements to the media after meeting with the president of the Autonomous Community , Javier Lamban.
Planas is in the Aragonese capital this Thursday to visit the Figan 2023 animal production fair, “an authentic reference, basically professional”, highlighted the minister, with more than a thousand exhibitors, 19 countries and 3,500 professionals.
The Minister of Agriculture has taken the opportunity to show his support for the livestock sector and for “extensive and intensive” professional livestock farming, which he considers “essential”.
In this regard, he recalled that Aragon is the leading pig producer, a sector that represents 40% of animal production in Spain, along with others such as sheep, cattle and goats, as well as the strength of this Community in food production with a year-on-year growth of 9.5% and 3,100 million euros which “shows that it is a leading sector”.
Ukrainian war aid
It has also taken the opportunity to influence the support measures for livestock production to alleviate the consequences of the crisis of the war in Ukraine and which have meant 12 million euros for 4,900 Aragonese farmers last year. Plus another 34 that “will reach 24,700 farmers in a few days as aid for the increase in the price of fertilizers.”
Lambán, for his part, highlighted the “very fruitful” relations with the Ministry of Agriculture in aspects such as the modernization and creation of new irrigation systems. This meeting has served to analyze issues of mutual interest, he said.
Asked about the drought situation and the irrigation modernization plans, the minister acknowledged that “we are in a difficult time”, in which it is “difficult to foresee the situation”, for which reason “all investments in terms of better use of available water and the modernization of irrigation systems are essential” or launch other instruments such as the use of reclaimed water or desalination in other parts of Spain.
He has also referred to the discontent of the agrarian organizations with the work of Planas in the negotiation of the CAP, among other aspects, and has affirmed that “it is good that there are differences of points of view, all respectable”, but he has assured that the Coincidence with the work of Lambán and the Minister of Agriculture, Joaquín Olona, has been “formidable and the voice of Aragon has been heard in Spain in terms of irrigation, PAC or large agri-food projects”.