Hundreds of farmers took to the streets of Barcelona with around 200 tractors, buses and private vehicles, calling for urgent action to address what they described as a structural crisis in Catalonia’s agricultural sector.
Wednesday’s demonstration, organised by agricultural union Unió de Pagesos, brought together more than 1,000 agricultural professionals from across the region, according to the union.
Protesters gathered outside the Spanish government’s delegation in Catalonia before marching towards the regional Agriculture Department and the Palau de la Generalitat, the seat of the Catalan government.
“We are prepared not to slacken; it is time to say enough,” said Raquel Serrat, the union’s national coordinator.
Serrat pointed to rising production costs, falling payments to farmers and recent episodes of historic drought, saying the pressures were pushing the sector “against the ropes”.
Farmers demand direct aid and tax relief
Unio de Pagesos said agriculture and livestock farming could no longer depend on temporary measures and one-off subsidies, arguing that long-term solutions were needed to guarantee food sovereignty.
The union is seeking direct aid of up to $18,950 for professional agricultural holdings to help offset the effects of the war in the Middle East.
It has also called on Spain’s central government to reduce taxes on agricultural diesel and value-added tax on agricultural production, introduce dedicated electricity tariffs for irrigation and exempt agricultural machinery from periodic vehicle inspections.
Another key demand is clearer food labelling that allows consumers to identify where products originate.
Import standards and EU funding fuel concerns
The union has raised concerns about alleged breaches of food-chain legislation and imports from outside the European Union that it says do not meet the same standards required of local producers.
Farmers are also worried about proposed reductions in funding under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which provides financial support to the bloc’s agricultural sector.
The union argues that the combined pressures threaten the viability of farms and livestock businesses, and has urged authorities to make firm commitments rather than rely on short-term assistance.
Union presses authorities for commitments
No formal meeting with public authorities had been scheduled ahead of the protest, although Catalonia’s Agriculture Department offered to receive union representatives.
Unió de Pagesos said it had already presented its demands through established consultation forums and called on officials to respond with concrete measures.
The demonstration underscores the mounting pressure on regional and national authorities to address farmers’ concerns over costs, market competition and the long-term sustainability of agricultural production.
