Union: Farmers under price pressure on eve of major annual fair

As the country’s agricultural sector prepares for its annual fair, the farmers’ union has issued a cry for help. The livestock industry in Belgium and in the rest of Western Europe is in crisis, the union says, and urgent measures are needed. 

“There is continuous price pressure, in particular in the pig sector, the dairy sector and the meat sector, holding prices down,” the union said. “Recent price reductions have led to growing concern in these sectors.”

The pig sector illustrates the problem of supply and demand in the industry in the EU, the union says. “Demand keeps rising, largely as a result of production increases in the Eastern European member states. The dairy industry is also faced with production increases since quotas were scrapped in April." 

On top of that imbalance, farmers have been suffering for the past year from the effects of Russia’s boycott on certain agricultural products from the EU, including pork, apples, pears and dairy products. A quarter of Europe’s pork exports were lost, and the quantities of butter and cheese exported went down by 27% and 33% respectively. 

The farmers' union has had contacts with all levels of government in recent weeks, the organisation says. “Follow-up appointments were made on the various levels,” the union said. “Any measures which might help ease the miserable situation agriculture is in have to be considered.”

Photo by Ingimage