Fruit growers see debate too narrowly focused on agricultural diesel

The fruit growers in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt see the current debate about cuts for agriculture as being too narrowly focused on the problem of agricultural diesel. "That is too one-sided and narrow a view. What is at stake is the threat to our existence posed by a comprehensive package of agricultural policy bans and restrictions, both from Brussels and, above all, from Berlin," explained Udo Jentzsch, Managing Director of the Saxon Fruit Association, which also represents the interests of fruit growers in Saxony-Anhalt. In Germany, EU regulations are too often "taken one step further". In addition, there are restrictions, for example on plant protection and fertilization, which only apply in Germany.

"Legally imposed wage increases with stagnating or falling producer prices due to global overproduction damage profitability. This forces us to always pay our employees in the low-wage sector - that's no fun at all," explained Jentzsch. Competitive disadvantages are increasing and cheap imports are weakening profitability. The next generation has little interest in fruit growing and farming. "We lack farm successors in every region. We farmers are not protesting for the 35-hour week or more vacations or more pay - we simply want to practice our profession and secure our own food supply."

According to the association, 40 farms in Saxony cultivate almost 3,000 hectares of land, while in Saxony-Anhalt there are 29 farms with around 775 hectares. Nationwide protests by farmers have been announced for this Monday.