The Nationalist Group (CC-PNC) in the Cabildo of Lanzarote has denounced the "total dismantling" of the primary sector in the budgets of the first institution. "At a time when we are offered a real opportunity to bet on this sector and local production, paradoxically the Government completely neglects it," said the spokesperson for CC in the Cabildo, Pedro San Ginés.
"We only ask the president to be receptive and value our proposals with a constructive attitude. We want to collaborate and help the government because we are aware of the extraordinary difficulties in balancing this budget, which is also inflated in its income, but we do not agree that it is precisely the primary sector that is sacrificed and, in addition, Coalición Canaria has presented the solution without affecting any other sector," added San Ginés.
CC denounces that a total of four items aimed at the agricultural and livestock sector amounting to 483,300 euros and two items of 144,000 for the fishing sector have been eliminated from the budget, which they "of course" propose to "replace".
Subsidies to the agricultural and livestock sector that disappear
Firstly, the nationalists state that a subsidy item of 80,000 euros for the growth of livestock (rearing of livestock) has been eliminated and another of 171,300 euros to cover the operating expenses, rents, training actions and agricultural and livestock projects. "These are nominated subsidies that disappear affecting a total of 18 agricultural groups and associations of cheese makers, breeders, ranchers, winegrowers, cooperatives etc.", laments the spokesperson.
"A third item linked to the primary sector that has also disappeared is one of 180,000 euros aimed at promoting and creating new agri-food companies that have been so successful, exponentially multiplying their number in recent years," they add from CC.
Likewise, San Ginés emphasizes that "they have also made 50,000 euros disappear for the creation of new wineries, which were exempt or remained outside the previous ones, forgetting that viticulture is our main agricultural industry and the protagonist of our landscape, and adding, moreover, that it is sustained with many difficulties by elderly farmers and cries out for a generational change".
Fishing sector
As for the fishing sector, the nationalists point out that "although the items for investment improve slightly, they eliminate the one for aid to the operation of the seven fishermen's associations for an amount of 64,000 euros". Similarly, CC denounces that the one corresponding to Optuna (Organization of Tuna Producers and fresh fish) of 80,000 euros is eliminated, which the Nationalist Group proposes to replace in 50,000 euros.
In this regard, the nationalists point out "although the subsidy is nominative to Optuna, it should be clarified that it is final for investments in facilities of which the Cabildo is the owner of the concession of the Port Authority".
Asks that the items be replaced and add 200,000 euros
Finally, and in addition to proposing to replace all the eliminated items via a budget amendment, the spokesperson for the Nationalist Group stresses that they also propose to "increase the item for investment in agricultural machinery by 200,000 euros, in line with our proposal included in the compendium of measures presented, to provide the agricultural service with a powerful agricultural mobile park to make available to all municipalities and promote an island project of unused land bank to make available to new farmers, thus facilitating the expenses of land preparation".
He also adds that "this year's budgets do not include a subsidy of 2,000 euros that was given to the agroecological production cycle of the IES of Teguise for agricultural and livestock projects, that is, to cover training actions so necessary for the sector".
