Farmers block the Ponte da Chamusca bridge. Follow to the minute

Around 100 tractors and agricultural machines cut the National Road 260 (EN260) in the Vila Verde de Ficalho (Beja) area, close to the border with Spain, from 3am as part of a farmers’ demonstration. Dozens of agricultural vehicles and farmers have been blocking traffic on Highway 25 (A25) between the Leomil and Vilar Formoso intersection in Guarda since 6 am.

According to a representative of the Civil Farmers’ Movement of the Beiras Region, farmers from all over the Beiras interior region are participating in the protest.

In a conversation with the Lusa agency, farmer Ricardo Estrela, who is idling on the A25 highway, said that agricultural machines, trailers and vehicles entered the Leomil junction at about 6:00 in the morning, and at about 6:50 they were already idling towards Vilara. Formoso.

“We are not going to break anything, we are not going to return the trucks, we are not going to attack anyone. We are here for ourselves, for our families, for our survival,” António João Veríssimo, one of the representatives of the Movement promoting the protests, told Lusa this Thursday throughout the country.

At the exit from Vila Verde de Ficalho towards Spain, where there are also some vehicles and members of the NTC, the first tractors are parked in the middle of the road and crossed.

This is also where the first group of farmers gathers, on a side platform, on the ground, next to a strong fire, with sausages to cook over the fire, juice and even a bottle of wine.

In the darkness of dawn, as you walk, Lusa found tractors, other farm equipment, and even trucks with trailers appearing on the scene, in consistent and uneven rows, all criss-crossed.

At the end, around 6:15 a.m., dozens of farmers were also gathered nearby, some by their tractors, others by another fire, warming themselves, with a supply van nearby.

On the other side, heading from Spain to Portugal, despite the darkness, you can see several stopped trucks that cannot pass due to the blockade.

“Our place is not on the roads or in barricading roads. We are field workers, we are people who produce food, we deserve respect,” said António João Veríssimo.

But despite saying they had no intention of “hurting lives or businesses,” the farmer claimed the countrymen had to take drastic measures to demonstrate their dissatisfaction.

“I think this is the limit. I don’t know what else we can do, it’s almost a last resort. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) does not deal with this very well, and being a farmer today is almost a life or death risk,” he assured.

This Thursday, farmers took to the streets with their tractors, from north to south, demanding recognition of the sector and fair conditions in a protest that is expected to block several roads, as has happened in other parts of Europe.

We are talking about the initiative of the Civic Farmers Movement, which is scheduled to start at 6:00 am.

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.”

In France, farmers are blocking several roads, blaming falling incomes, low pensions, administrative complexity, inflated standards and foreign competition.

Protest has also grown in countries such as Spain, Belgium, Greece, Germany and Italy.