Catalan farmers explode as Russian fruit veto ‘ruins’ producers

How is it possible that the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 has had a crucial impact on the life of some farmers in Western Catalonia over the past few years? The explanation is not that odd and it is evidence of how globalized the world is. The European Union imposed sanctions on Russia after its controversial takeover of the heretofore Ukrainian peninsula three years ago. Vladimir Putin’s government retorted with a veto on certain agricultural and food products coming from the EU, the United States, Canada, Australia and Norway. The impact of this conflict in Western Lleida was dramatic: a surplus of stone fruit production and a drastic price drop. Farmers are not willing to sit back and do nothing.

Three years after the beginning of the Russian veto the situation is still critical in Lleida, according to some local farmer organizations and unions. They say that the price drop as a result of the production surplus is not only reducing their profit, but also making them lose money in some cases. The crisis prompted most farmers’ organizations and unions to join in a united event in Lleida in late July to protest the situation.  

They claim they are being paid half of the production cost

Unió de Pagesos farmers union (UP) claims that they are being paid around 15 to 25 cents for a kilo of peaches or nectarines which has a production cost of 30 to 35 cents. “Farmers sell their products at a price below its real cost, with a 700% difference compared to the price paid by consumers” which might be more than €1.50, said UP sweet fruit manager, Xavier Gorgues. This situation is “ruining” producers, he added.