Catalan farmers have lifted the blockade on the Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes in Barcelona. This action followed a two-day protest outside the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food. However, representatives from the agricultural sector warn that their demands for concrete policy changes remain urgent.
According to sources from Revolta Pagesa (Farmers’ Revolt), approximately fifty farmers spent the night camped in the area. They utilised tractors and set up an improvised urban garden. Dismantling operations began shortly after lunch on Friday, therefore clearing one of the city’s major thoroughfares.
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Home » Barcelona Farmers Protest Ends as Gran Via Blockade Lifted
Catalan Farmers Protest Demands for Bureaucratic Reform
The mobilisation aimed to highlight the systemic difficulties facing the Catalan agricultural sector. Key grievances include the proposed European Union trade agreement with Mercosur, excessive bureaucratic red tape, and the need for more agile sanitary protocols.
Despite ending the street blockade, the farmers insist they are not withdrawing their pressure on the government. Meanwhile, Jordi Ginabreda, spokesperson for the Gremi de la Pagesia Catalana (Catalan Peasantry Guild), emphasised that the administration is fully aware of the sector’s struggles.
“The administration already knows what the problems are, but our day-to-day life continues the same. We don’t have time to waste,” Ginabreda explained.
He noted a shift in the mood of the demonstrators. “More than angry, there is a point of exhaustion. Consequently, we need concrete changes and speed in the administration’s response,” he added.
Government Calls for Unity Amid Catalan Farmers Protest
Òscar Ordeig, the Councillor for Agriculture, stated that his department maintains permanent contact with sector representatives. In addition, he pointed to existing working groups established to address critical issues. These include the Mercosur deal, the ongoing wine sector crisis, and financial aid for damages caused by wildlife.
Ordeig welcomed the fact that the mobilisations were conducted “with total normality”. Furthermore, he called for unity of action in what he described as a “complex” context involving three simultaneous health emergencies.
Catalan Farmers Protest Separates from Railway Protests
The farmers’ withdrawal coincided with other demonstrations in the city regarding the Rodalia commuter rail service. However, Ginabreda clarified that the tractors did not join the railway protests as a safety precaution. He noted that mixing heavy agricultural machinery with large crowds could generate unnecessary risks.
“We will join individually,” he said, expressing solidarity with rail users. Reflecting on the farmers’ own protest, Ginabreda lamented the low level of engagement from the general public. “We came to educate and bring the message closer, but few people approached,” he admitted.
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