Spain: Asphyxiation for citrus producers in Malaga due to Morocco

More than 3,000 families in Malaga living from their citrus productions will be in suspense until mid February, when the terms on the agricultural agreement with Morocco will be known. Their worry is added to the one of the horticultural producers and the tropical producers, as they see how Brussels is threatening with the destruction of agriculture in Andalucia.

Malaga is one of the most affected provinces by this agreement, due to closeness and climate similarity with Morocco, as harvests coincide, while on the other hand, conditions and rules are quite different. A revealing aspect is the daily payment received by farmers: Daily pay in Malaga is between 50 and 60 Euro, while in Morocco the payment is much less. This explains many things, like the North African country being able to reduce the prices of their products. According to Benjamín Faulí, technician for Asaja Malaga: "Production costs in Morocco are 50% smaller than here. It's impossible to compete. The new agreement reduces, for example, the entrance price for clementine from Morocco in the European Union, establishing it at 48 cents per kilo in the market. In exchange, our citrus producers, produce a kilo at a cost of 25 cents, without harvesting, handling, transport,...", explained Faulí.

Source: Asaja Málaga