Hundreds of people mobilized last year under Dolumin Barikua (Llodio) in defense of the primary sector. One year after that mobilization, the SOS Baserriak platform takes stock of the situation of the sector, concluding that it "has worsened".

Decline in the primary sector

Some data show the decline of the primary sector. According to the data presented by Eustat, the platform highlights the disappearance of 5-6 farms per week in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country. Farms with less than 5 hectares or headed by women are the most affected according to statistics.

The SOS Baserriak platform has also highlighted the results of the Duina study conducted by Biolur. According to this study, the Basque primary sector does not meet the minimum wage conditions laid down by the Charter of Social Rights.

What is more, the working hours of farmers exceed 40 hours per week by 10% to 53%. "Aging is evident and under these conditions there is no possibility of relief," the baserritarras of the region point out.

As the food CPI grows, the platform also stresses that the difference between origin and destination prices has increased by 65% on the basis of COAG data. "The consumer pays more, but the producers charge less," he summarizes.

Local problem

However, the baserritarras of Aiaraldea have denounced that this decline is due not only to external global dynamics, but also to local measures: "The germ that is finishing us is born locally and arises from decisions such as the closure of the Municipal Slaughterhouse or the strict interpretation of health regulations for the markets".

"If small baserritars take away from large corporations the only channel they have to autonomously slaughter their animals or make the traditional sales channel difficult, we cannot be surprised by the disappearance of the farmhouses from week to week," the platform explains.

They point out from the platform that they do not require "preferential treatment" to deal with the situation: "We call for the application of health regulations, but, like any other food system agent, we also demand the interpretation of this regulation from our reality, our capacity and our food culture".

The SOS Baserriak platform has highlighted the new cycle that will open after the May Municipal and Foral Elections. Rather than for the benefit of large distributions, they call on political actors to take direct structural decisions to ensure the continuity of the local agri-food producer sector. "Under the same conditions, as food producers, and not as the folkloric atrezzo of a fair day".