WATCH: Army of tractors descends on Spanish city for mass protest
Traffic was paralyzed across Valencia, Spain as thousands of farmers descended on the regional capital to protest government inaction.
Disgruntled farmers blocked the entrance and exits to the main highway in Lucena near Malaga in the south, blocking off an entire section measuring approximately 22km (13.7 miles).
#Tractorada de #Agricultores en #Lucenapic.twitter.com/etfsVUeGr5
— Monturque.info (@monturqueinfo) February 14, 2020
The farmers reportedly apologized to all those caught up in the protests and gave out oranges to help ease tensions.
All across the Valencian countryside agricultural workers are protesting government inaction; they say they aim to guarantee the future of Spain’s agricultural industry and provide better prices for local produce.
Los tractores van llegando poco a poco a la ciudad para iniciar la protesta #Tractorada@ava_asaja@UnioLlauradorspic.twitter.com/LLlskX7BIF
— La Razón CV (@larazon_cv) February 14, 2020
Meanwhile, in the capital Valencia, protests started at 11am local time with a tractor carrying two orange trees, chopped down to symbolize the “asphyxiating and desperate” state of Spanish agriculture.
🔴MANIFESTACIÓN DE AGRICULTORES Y GANADEROS🚜Comienza a moverse la manifestación. Además de València, las tractoradas se llevan a cabo en Andalucía y Asturias.@ava_asaja@UnioLlauradors@La_COAG@UPA_Federal#tractorada@24h_tve@radio5_rnepic.twitter.com/xzhN7jpoCm
— RTVE Comunitat Valenciana (@RTVEValencia) February 14, 2020
Thousands of farmers, ranchers, and beekeepers arrived in buses from the three provinces accompanied by some 500 tractors. The Valencian government asked motorists not to drive into the city center and to avoid the highways ahead of the protests.
Comienza a concentrarse la gente en #Valencia para participar en la #manifestación por unos precios dignos. Numerosa representación de #cooperativas venidas de toda la Comunitat pic.twitter.com/PuJTjChY7U
— Cooperatives Agro-alimentàries CV (@CoopsAgroCV) February 14, 2020
Similar protests have been held across Europe as farmers decry a perceived indifference towards their plight by local and EU governments.
Also on rt.com ‘We've had enough!’ WATCH German farmers drive tractors through Berlin to protest agriculture policyThink your friends would be interested? Share this story!
