Spain wants foreigners for agriculture boost

F.P. Report

MADRID: The Spanish government said Tuesday it will make it easier for migrants and the unemployed to work in agriculture during the coronavirus pandemic.

The availability of such workers had been “clearly restricted” due to curbs on movement to contain the spread of the virus, said the Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas.

But if farmers failed to carry out harvests coming due, prices would rise due to shortages of produce, he warned.

Two-thirds of Spain’s production goes to European markets, he said, calling agricultural exports “a very important source of income”.

Spain traditionally uses thousands of seasonal workers from abroad to pick stone fruits.

Many harvesting seasons start in the coming weeks.

The production of strawberries in the province of Huelva represents 90 per cent of the European market at this time of year. (APP)