Spanish farmer accuses companies of moving production to Morocco for cheaper labor
A Spanish farmer accuses companies in his country of moving their crops to Morocco to take advantage of much cheaper labor. Alberto Tomás denounces what he considers unfair competition, using a particularly provocative phrase about Moroccan workers’ wages.
“Many Spanish companies grow crops in Morocco, then bring their produce back here.” Alberto Tomás, a farmer in the La Rioja region, doesn’t mince words. To explain why some Spanish farms struggle to compete with imported products, he points directly to differences in pay between the two countries.
In an interview on the AgroLife podcast, highlighted again this Saturday, October 10, by El Español, the producer uses a striking image: “In Morocco, forgive the expression, they give a sandwich to the young person doing the harvesting.” It is a way of denouncing low labor costs, without providing precise figures on wages paid on Moroccan farms.
Spanish companies drawn to Morocco’s production costs
For this farmer, the problem is not only Moroccan imports. He particularly faults Spanish companies for producing on the other side of the Strait of Gibraltar before bringing their goods back onto the Spanish market. They thus benefit from lower costs than farmers who remain in their own country.
Alberto Tomás knows the challenges of the job. Based in Quel, in La Rioja, he farms around 45 hectares of agricultural land. His crops include grapevines, almond trees, olive trees, plum trees, broccoli and cherries. He has also set out to revive a local pepper variety that is at risk of disappearing.
Rising prices for agricultural fuel and fertilizers are weighing on his income. Despite these difficulties, he says his farm remains profitable, but only with a great deal of effort. “I want my crops to be paid fairly and not face unfair competition,” he insists.
On Bladi.net : Morocco Challenges Spain Agriculture Dominance
The producer also criticizes a system in which some agricultural subsidies can become more advantageous than selling the harvest. He cites green harvesting, a practice that involves removing some of the grapes before they ripen to limit production. He acknowledges that he has also resorted to it when economic conditions made it more worthwhile than selling his crop.