Thousands of farmers protest in Madrid against Spain’s agricultural policies

Farmers and cattle breeders marched along the boulevards Paseo de la Castellana and Paseo del Prado in Madrid before gathering in front of the Agriculture Ministry

Alma Rural campaign group has called for better promotion of goods produced in Spain and a ban on food imports from countries where the rules are less strict

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A woman holds a skeleton with a banner reading “Spanish farmer S.O.S”, as she takes part in a farmers’ protest in Madrid, Spain on January 23. Photo: Reuters

Published: 6:41am, 24 Jan 2022

Thousands of farmers protested against the government’s agricultural policy in Spain on Sunday.

Farmers and cattle breeders marched along the boulevards Paseo de la Castellana and Paseo del Prado in Madrid before gathering in front of the Agriculture Ministry. Many attended the rally on tractors or horseback, or in carts pulled by oxen and donkeys.

“Agriculture is dying,” lamented Carlos Bueno, secretary general of the Alma Rural campaign group that organised the protest.

Some 6,000 people joined the rally, according to government figures, although Alma Rural said there had been “tens of thousands.”

Bueno criticised the government’s agricultural, environmental and animal welfare policies, saying they “are hurting us a lot.”

Farmers take part in a protest to raise awareness about the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic in Madrid, Spain on January 23. Photo: Reuters

Alma Rural has called for better promotion of goods produced in Spain and a ban on food imports from countries where the rules are less strict.