Olivero Farmer and Bachelor of Environmental Sciences; As the son of an olive grove from Jaén, the UPA (union of small farmers and ranchers) is part of his life almost since its inception. At 44, he remembers from teenager going to mobilizations, putting posters, attending assemblies. Before as a technician and now as a newly elected secretary, Cristóbal Cano, has done everything in the organization and well can be applied to “be a chef before friar.” In the UPA and in agriculture.
How does the General Secretariat face in a professional organization of farmers and ranchers?
Knowing that there is much to do, because there are many work fronts. On the one hand, internally with the partners, offering services, training, etc. In the institutional sphere, be the voice of agriculture in different forums. In the new executive, which is joint, we have included new work areas, such as innovation, digitalization, climate change, agricultural employment and migration, generational relief, etc.
Is this one of the issues that most worry in the sector?
One of them and is key. It is one of the work pillars that we are going to boost and reinforce the most. The average age of farmers and ranchers is very high. And there is no easy relay. It has to be enhanced by administrations, to be an attractive and profitable activity. And they have to be able to access because, starting from scratch, today it is impossible.
Perhaps also the hardness of agricultural work remains attractive
It is true that agricultural work is not easy. But, it is not the same as 30 years ago. In the urban environment there is perhaps a perception that work in the countryside has not evolved, but it has done so. A lot. There is a very high degree of technification and technology that perhaps is not aware of the sector. I always have that, when as a young man I went to the collection of the olive, we could talk among the workers. Today you can no longer because there are many machines doing many tasks. Another example: today you can water an exploitation from the mobile or handle some parameters of your livestock. And, of course, it is easier to incorporate technologies for young people.
What else would be necessary to attract more young people to the sector?
A rural environment with services and infrastructure under conditions. Both in health, in education, on road, in Internet access. All that has to be, at least, as in the urban environment to compete and to offer decent conditions. If not, it makes no sense.
Have you incorporated a work area on climate change?
As an organization we have clear and for a long time that the climatic crisis is there. We cannot deny the evidence. Whoever does it is condemned to failure. Therefore, we have worked in many research programs because with the Complutense University or with the CSIC and even international projects. And we also do a lot of training for adaptation, new more resistant varieties, etc.
How do you see the environmentalist?
As an organization, we understand that it is not an enemy of agricultural activity and that we have to coexist because we both are part of the rural world. We are looking for ways of collaboration, approach and common work. Nor would they want them to see us as an environmental irresponsible. I do not like to generalize about us and I do not do it about them.
Why can you sometimes give the feeling that the agricultural sector does not fully get along with the environmental?
I think there has been an effort on the part of I do not know who, to transfer the idea that in the field there is a unique thought. And it is not true. On the other hand, you cannot deny a feeling, often based on reality, that it is not given enough voice or sufficiently participation in decisions or policies. The European Commission itself has reoriented the vision it had over the sector in a few months. Faced with that reality, normal that there is discomfort. If we add to that that the sector has been and remains, unfortunately, cultivation broth to put other messages that have nothing to do with their interests for the political polarization environment, because worse. It is throwing diesel to the fire.