Agriculture - Schwesig against cuts for farmers
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Minister President Manuela Schwesig has criticized the German government's plans to end tax breaks for farmers. "We need a strong agricultural sector, also so that prices remain stable. The cuts for agriculture go too far and come too suddenly," the SPD politician told the magazine "Stern" (Tuesday). "A sensible solution must be found," explained Schwesig, echoing the demands of farmers who protested loudly in Berlin on Monday against the plans of Berlin's "traffic light" coalition.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Agriculture Minister Till Backhaus (SPD) introduced alternative savings proposals into the debate on Tuesday. He spoke out in favor of abolishing the company car privilege for hybrid vehicles. According to him, this could save 1.2 billion euros and thus maintain the benefits for farmers.
"The federal government needs to save 17 billion euros. One billion is to come from agriculture alone. That is excessive and unfair. It is not for nothing that frustration was unleashed in Berlin on Monday," said Backhaus. The austerity program agreed by the Berlin coalition with the traffic light system would noticeably reduce the income of agricultural businesses. Added to this are increased expenses for energy, fertilizer and fuel. Agricultural businesses in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania alone were expecting a loss in earnings of 200 to 300 million euros per year, as the costs could only be passed on in part due to price pressure from the trade.
Backhaus also called on the federal government to support the conversion of agriculture to biofuels in the interests of climate protection. For example, conventional diesel should be completely replaced by biodiesel over a period of five years; vehicles and equipment in agriculture are suitable for this. Biogas produced by farms could also be increasingly used. "We need acceptance and not discrepancy," Backhaus campaigned. He called for a special conference of federal and state agriculture ministers to be convened quickly.
In Berlin on Monday, thousands of farmers vented their anger with protests and a long line of tractors. Farmers' President Joachim Rukwied called on the coalition government to withdraw its plans to cut agricultural diesel and vehicle tax. Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) expressed understanding for the farmers' displeasure and announced further consultations on the matter.
Backhaus' proposals met with approval from the agricultural association Biopark e.V. in Güstrow. It was incomprehensible why agriculture should be asked to pay disproportionately for the budget cuts. "As an association, we appeal to the political decision-makers to examine alternative solutions and ensure that measures are in line with the principles of environmental and climate protection," emphasized Biopark Chairman Jens Rasim. He warned that the planned increase in the price of agricultural diesel and the levying of vehicle tax would jeopardize the livelihoods of farmers and accelerate the demise of farms.
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- Despite the criticism from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Minister President Manuela Schwesig, Berlin's "traffic light" coalition is determined to cut tax breaks for farmers.
- Till Backhaus, Agriculture Minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and an SPD politician, suggested an alternative saving measure: abolishing the company car privilege for hybrid vehicles.
- Berlin's plans to reduce income in agricultural businesses by 1 billion euros have led to heavy protests in Berlin, with farmers demanding a fair share of the budget cuts.
- Backhaus also advocated for the federal government to support the conversion of agriculture to biofuels, which could help reduce reliance on conventional diesel and promote climate protection.
- The agricultural association Biopark e.V. in Güstrow supported Backhaus' proposals, warning that disproportionate budget cuts could jeopardize the livelihoods of farmers and aggravate the decline of farms.
- SPD politician Till Backhaus, in his role as Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Agriculture Minister, urgently called for a special conference of federal and state agriculture ministers to discuss alternative solutions.
Source: www.stern.de
