During his speech, Qadri highlighted the particularly complex situation of La Palma's agricultural sector, which has endured several consecutive crises in recent years. The consequences of the volcanic eruption were compounded by the effects of the war in Ukraine, leading to a sharp increase in input costs, and now the conflict in Iran is directly impacting fuel prices, with increases exceeding 20%.
“"The increase in fuel costs makes absolutely everything more expensive: production, transport, packaging, and energy. Producing in the Canary Islands is increasingly costly."
The deputy warned that strategic sectors like banana farming also suffer from structural problems such as competition from third countries, a lack of generational replacement, and excessive bureaucracy, now exacerbated by these new external factors. Qadri alerted to the direct consequences of this situation on the future of agriculture, emphasizing that a lack of profitability leads to the abandonment of farming activities.
In this regard, Qadri stressed the need to reorient public policies and revive the culture of effort, sending a clear message to future generations. He questioned whether the example being set for young people is one of neglecting those who work in the fields without certainty of profit.
Furthermore, Qadri praised the commitment secured in Brussels by the Vice President of Canarias, Manuel Domínguez, to increase the financial allocation for POSEI, which has been frozen for over two decades despite constant cost increases. He also highlighted the continuous work of popular MEP Gabriel Mato in defending the interests of the Canarian agricultural sector, who recently presented an amendment to the European budget to increase POSEI. Qadri considered this progress crucial for ensuring the viability and continuity of the primary sector in Canarias.
