After months marked by the severe consequences of the transport ban linked to cases of lumpy skin disease, with the total shutdown of exports for weeks despite limited cases, Sardinian farmers are now facing a new emergency that threatens to further bring hundreds of farms on the island to their knees. In fact, maritime transport to the mainland for hundreds of calves destined for fattening centers in Northern Italy has been blocked , with serious repercussions for farms and for existing commercial contracts. Coldiretti Sardegna is raising the alarm.
"The situation is causing severe hardship for the many companies that are unable to ship their animals, with the ever-increasing risk of suffering heavy economic losses , compounded by the costs of maintaining the animals and the uncertainty about scheduled deliveries," explains Coldiretti Sardegna, which "activated immediately, sending an urgent request to the Sardinia Region and the national government to adopt all necessary measures to quickly resolve the situation and ensure the continuity of essential connections for the transport of live animals to the mainland."
"We are facing yet another slap in the face for Sardinian farmers, " denounces Battista Cualbu , president of Coldiretti Sardinia. "The dignity of our businesses is being trampled on twice. First, with the generalized blockade of movements imposed across Sardinia, despite the dermatitis outbreaks being limited and localized, causing enormous damage to hundreds of farms. Now comes this new stoppage, preventing farmers from honoring their commercial commitments and moving their animals to fattening centers in Northern Italy . It is unacceptable that every year, for one reason or another, the problem of territorial continuity of goods recurs without a definitive solution being found. We demand," Coldiretti concludes, "the immediate unblocking of routes from Northern Sardinia to the mainland and concrete measures to ensure a stable service adequate to the needs of the sector."
(Unioneonline/lf)
