Hundreds of farmers from the central region have been blocking the A25 motorway since early Thursday morning in the Alto de Leomil area, municipality of Almeida, about 13 kilometers from the Vilar-Formoso border, and say they are ready to maintain the blockade until they understand what has happened in the sector changes.
“We have here, of course, more than 500 machines and there will be about 700 farmers,” said Luse Ricardo Estrela, representative of the Beiras region of the Portuguese Civil Farmers Movement, which is organizing a protest this Thursday in different parts of the country. . a country.
Traffic on the A25 motorway in the Alto de Leomil area of Guarda district has been stopped since 06:00 by a decision of the authorities, traffic has been diverted to national roads.
The farmers began their protest around 6:15 am.
Ricardo Estrela credited the authorities for the way the blockade began and for the decision to initiate a cessation of blood circulation.
“Perhaps when they realized that they could not contain this movement, they decided to block this area in advance,” said Ricardo Estrela.
A protest spokesman admitted that “it was very good.”
“They don’t count how good it was for us because the last thing we want is for some collateral disaster to happen. Our goal is to warn those who govern us about the misguided measures they have taken. in any way to create problems for third parties,” he assured.
Ricardo Estrela stressed that the goal is for “the protest to take place in an orderly manner and with as much civility as possible.”
“There are several firing points at the protest. These are fire pits. This demonstrates the civility of this sector,” he noted.
A sheep producer in the Castelo Branco region also stressed that there are alternatives to roundabout transport.
“The A25 is blocked, but we are leaving alternatives so that traffic can move. I know we have difficulties, but if we don’t create problems, we won’t be heard,” he said.
Farmers intend to support the protest “until they realize that something will change.”
The movement intends to request hearings from the Minister of Agriculture, the President of the Republic and parliamentary groups.
“It is important that we know what the future will be and what the vision of the party is,” emphasized Ricardo Estrela.
The protest, an initiative of the Civic Farmers’ Movement, comes a day after the government announced a package worth more than 400 million euros aimed at mitigating the effects of drought and strengthening the Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy (PEPAC).
The package includes, among other things, production measures worth 200 million euros, covering production losses and the creation of a credit line of 50 million euros with a zero interest rate.
According to a statement released Wednesday by the movement, farmers are demanding the right to adequate food, fair conditions and recognition for their activities.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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