Farmers from the Baixo Mondego area, who “invaded” Avenida Fernão Magalhães in the center of Coimbra this Thursday afternoon, will meet with representatives of the Regional Directorate of Agriculture and Fisheries and spend the night in the city.
More than 200 tractors and agricultural vehicles began entering the city of Coimbra at 14:00, and shortly after 15:00 they completely blocked part of this artery leading to the city center. At 16.00, car traffic was already allowed to move in one lane on each side of the avenue.
The protesters told Lusa that they would spend the night there and that tractors and farm equipment would no longer leave the area they occupied.
Although there is no scheduled time, farmer Joao Grilo from Coimbra said that the delegation will meet with the regional directorate of agriculture of the center.
The farmers began their protest at around 10:30 am in Montemor o Velho with a slow march from Estrada Nacional (EN) 111 towards Avenida Fernão Magalhães in the center of Coimbra.
With numerous horns blaring, the cars arrived in the center of Coimbra, where PSP had already reserved parking, which was not enough given the number of tractors and agricultural machinery.
“The cause of inflation is not production” is one of the main phrases of farmers complaining about various situations.
The demonstration, apparently spontaneous and not part of the protest program of the Civil Farmers’ Movement of Portugal, which is taking place this Thursday in various parts of the country, came from a group of agricultural producers from Baixo Mondego, who were concentrated in Montemoro. – Velho, about 25 kilometers from Coimbra.
The protest comes a day after the government announced a package worth more than €400 million aimed at mitigating the effects of drought and strengthening the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan (PEPAC).
According to a statement released on Wednesday, farmers are demanding the right to adequate food, fair conditions and recognition for their activities.
The movement, which describes itself as spontaneous and non-partisan, ensured that Portuguese farmers were ready to “defend themselves against the constant attacks on sustainability, food sovereignty and rural life.”