Farmers and ranchers will protest this Wednesday with their tractors in the center of the capital to demand more aid against the drought, a protest that will be joined by affected people who will arrive from different parts of Spain.
The Union of Unions of Farmers and Ranchers has informed the Government Delegation in Madrid of the celebration of this mobilization, consisting of a march of tractors towards the city from different parts of Spain, reports Efe.
Starting at 10:00 a.m., they will hold a demonstration that will take place between Plaza de la Independencia and Calle de Alfonso XII, up to Paseo de Infanta Isabel, number 1, headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
The territorial organizations are called to participate in the demonstration, whose objective is to demand more aid for the drought and speed in the implementation of those approved, said Union of Unions in a statement.
The organization calculates that the approved aid only covers 3% of the losses that is taking place, for which reason it asks for more “forcefulness and responsibility” from the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, and whoever may succeed him in office after the next elections.
In his opinion, the situation in the countryside due to the strong episodes of drought and the increase in production costs, among other causes, due to the war in Ukraine, are leading the sector “to ruin”.
In the protest, the participation of farmers and ranchers from all communities is expected, along with some 150 tractors from Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Extremadura, the Valencian Community and Catalonia, from different marches.
The so-called “Drought March” started this Monday from Girona and this Tuesday it has done so from the towns of Lleida, La Lastrilla (Segovia), Nambroca and Villacañas (Toledo) and Batea (Tarragona), while on Wednesday two demonstrations will start from Miajadas and Navalmoral de la Mata (Badajoz), and Utiel (Valencia).
On July 5, these marches will gather in Torrejón de la Calzada and Cercedilla (Madrid), and Guadalajara, before reaching the center of Madrid, according to Unión de Uniones.
The protesters will arrive in Madrid from several columns, the first of which is from Coslada, entering through the M-201, Avenida de Arcentales, Calle de Santa Prisca, Avenida del Marqués de Corbera, Calle de Alcalde Sainz de Baranda, Calle de O’ Donnell and Calle de Alcalá to Plaza de la Independencia.
This column will affect the towns of Alcalá de Henares, Torrejón de Ardoz, San Fernando de Henares and Coslada.
The second column comes from the northwest, and will enter Madrid from Majadahonda through the M-500, Puente de los Franceses, Ruperto Chapí promenade, Camoens promenade, Francisco and Jacinto Alcántara streets, Marqués de Urquijo, Alberto Aguilera, Carranza , Sagasta, Génova and Plaza de la Independencia, turning towards Paseo de Recoletos.
This second column will affect the municipalities of Cercedilla, Guadarrama, Collado Villalba, Torrelodones, Las Rozas, Majadahonda and Pozuelo de Alarcón.
The third column will enter the capital from Fuenlabrada through the M-425, M-421, Carabanchel Alto avenue, Eugenia de Montijo street, General Ricardos street, Marqués de Vadillo square, Antonio López street, Glorieta de Cádiz, Calle del Vado de Santa Catalina, Plaza de Legazpi, Paseo de las Delicias, Plaza del Emperador Carlos V, Paseo del Prado, Plaza de Cibeles, Calle de Alcalá up to Plaza de la Independencia.
This column will affect the towns of Torrejón de la Calzada, Griñón, Humanes, Fuenlabrada and Leganés.
Finally, the demonstration will affect the Plaza de la Independencia, Calle de Alfonso XII and the Paseo de la Infanta Isabel, where it will end.
The Government Delegation has coordinated, with the Civil Guard, the National Police, the Municipal Police of Madrid and Samur-Civil Protection, a security device for the normal development of the mobilization, and the use of public transport is recommended due to over the long duration that is expected.