This and other topics were discussed at the second meeting held in Fraga with the agro-industrial sector.
The Fraga City Council, the Department of Agriculture of the Government of Aragon, and representatives of the agricultural sector in the Bajo Cinca region held a second meeting this Thursday to seek joint solutions to the crisis affecting the agricultural sector. Following the first meeting, held on February 21st, which served as an initial contact between the various stakeholders, the main topics of discussion at this new working group meeting were agricultural insurance and the creation of a differentiated quality standard for stone fruit produced in the area.
The Director General of Innovation and Agri-food Promotion of the regional government, Juan José Orriés, has stated that these working groups “serve to specify the points that need to be addressed, and from there establish concrete measures to help where the sector tells us it is most needed.”
“The issue of agricultural insurance is important for everyone in all areas of Aragon, and we are revising the system. This is the most concrete aspect that we understand the sector wants,” explained Orriés, who added that farmers are also requesting “increased promotion to boost national consumption, as well as participation in certain trade fairs to enhance the marketing of products and achieve prices more in line with the sector's needs.”
For his part, the mayor of Fraga, Ignacio Gramún, argued that with these meetings “we continue working to improve the agricultural sector, which is being stifled for many reasons such as the bureaucratic burden or unaffordable costs.”
Regarding the content of the working group, Gramún commented, “We are discussing the possibility of creating a Designation of Origin (DO) or a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) in our area. We are currently debating this and will see if, together, we can establish a differentiated quality for our stone fruit, which we believe would be very beneficial for our entire region.”
“The sector will assess this, and we will schedule further meetings because, as you know, a Designation of Origin isn't established overnight; it takes time and there are steps to follow,” concluded the mayor of Fraga. Finally, the Councilor for Agriculture, Verónica Alins, stated that “there is more optimism” now than on previous occasions when attempts were made to establish a differentiated quality designation, although she clarified that its creation depends “on the willingness of the producers who will be part of this differentiated quality.”
