Sardinian sheep and goat breeders risk losing 133 million euros due to the new criteria decided by the Ministry of Agricultural Policies within the National Strategic Plan, envisaged by the new EU agricultural programming 2023-2027.
The alarm comes from Copagri, who denounces the lack of application to the sector of the zootechnical ecosystem, that is, to environmentally friendly practices, referring to animal welfare.
The choice would be "to the full advantage of the livestock production of Northern Italy", according to the trade association.
"Which means - explained Pietro Tandeddu, director of Copagri - for the pastoral enterprises of Sardinia which, as is well known, has the largest presence of sheep and goats in Italy (3,039,160 sheep, equal to 48% of the national patrimony and 298,424 goats, equal to 28% of the Italian total), a huge economic damage, absolutely unacceptable; it is surprising that, in the face of the indications placed at the basis of the choices, aimed at favoring grazing or semi-wild farming, the sector is penalized in which this type of breeding is more widespread ".
"Copagri Sardinia - added the regional president of Copagri Ignazio Cirronis - does not accept that Sardinia suffers damage that we can estimate around 133 million euros per year. The Region must find a way to block this decision, also considering that the minister Stefano Patuanelli has not yet brought the National Strategic Plan to the final confrontation in the State-Regions Conference. Among other things, the terms for the allocation of resources among the Regions referring to rural development are not known and whether Patuanelli will take into account Sardinia of the principle of insularity ".
(Unioneonline / F)
