The government delegate in Galicia, Pedro Blanco, highlighted the government’s support for Galician farmers in their fight against diseases that affect cattle and that are causing great economic damage to farms, while regretting that, once again, Xunta tries to sell as its own funds that are transferred by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
The government delegate informed that the BOE today publishes the royal decree approved yesterday in the Council of Ministers that includes the regulatory bases of the aid of 23 million euros to the Spanish livestock sector to compensate the expenses caused by the Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHE), finance the National Program for the eradication of bovine tuberculosis and the purchase of vaccines against the bluetongue serotype 8.
In the case of Galicia, the aid to alleviate the damage caused to the farms by the EHE amounts to 2.8 million euros, which represents half of the 5.6 million announced by the Ministry of Rural Environment for the farms affected. “We demand transparency and institutional loyalty from the Xunta to indicate at all times the important contribution that the Government is making in this and other fields to respond to the problems of the Galicians and the Galicians,” reproached Blanco.
In this same vein, he added that, despite the fact that animal health is an exclusive competence of the autonomous communities, the ministry headed by Luis Planas decided to strengthen with state funds the aid to livestock farms to mobilize more than 30 million euros throughout the country.
Purpose of the grants
The aid will be intended to compensate for the loss of animals, for the disinsectation of farms and for the veterinary costs incurred by the farmer to combat this disease, including disbursements for the purchase of vaccines for those farmers who decide voluntarily to use it.
In this way, the Government fulfills its commitment announced at the National Forum of Extensive Livestock, held in Toledo in May, to launch a national program of economic support to farmers affected by the EHE, a disease that arrived in Spain in 2022 and had a significant impact on cattle in most of the country since then.
To combat it, the Ministry of Agriculture also pledged to work with pharmaceutical companies to make an effective vaccine available to the sector. The government’s impetus allowed this vaccine to be available since last August and can be used voluntarily.
Bovine tuberculosis
In addition, the delegate also reported that the Council of Ministers authorized in its session yesterday the territorialization of 7 million euros to support the National Programme for the Eradication of Bovine Tuberculosis, of which 348,930 euros will be for Galicia, which raises the investment of the State to 3.16 million euros in the community in the field of animal health. “In this way the Government complements the financing of the European Union and ensures the proper functioning of a basic program for public health for the health of livestock farms,” said Blanco.