[ad_1]
Status: December 8, 2020 10:57 am
Farmers finished their blockades of Aldi’s central warehouses in Lower Saxony this morning. The discount store had previously promised talks for Friday.
As a last group, Aldi also wants to come to the negotiating table on Friday with discount stores, associations and farmers. When asked if it was actually about higher prices, an Aldi spokeswoman said: She doesn’t want to anticipate the talks. Farmers demand that half of the retail price of milk and meat go to farms. In total, they blocked eight of the discount store warehouses overnight in Lower Saxony and others in other federal states.
From disappointment to the will to protest
Farmers’ reactions were different after the action. While they were still ready to protest in Weyhe (Diepholz district), Emsland farmers reacted seriously, as a Land Creates Connection spokesperson said. No more could be accomplished. Now we have to wait for the talks, the spokesman said. Yet many farmers fear that discount stores will continue to hold onto farmers so as not to jeopardize the Christmas business.
Farmers expect equal discussions
Schapen’s Matthias Everinghoff participated in the lockdown campaign in Lingen. The farmer now expects discussions at eye level. “We hope that the commercial relations between Aldi and the farmers will be more fair.” The price of pork has dropped from 2 euros per kilo for the producer to 1.19 euros since the beginning of the year. At the same time, the price in stores has risen, so there is a greater margin for slaughterhouses and retailers. “These are things that don’t work in any way,” Everinghoff said. “Now we just have to find new ways.”
In addition to Lingen, the farmers also had Aldi warehouses in Seevetal (Harburg district), Hesel (Leer district), Beverstedt (Cuxhaven district), Weyhe (Diepholz district), Hedemünden (Göttingen district), Lehrte (Göttingen district). Hannover) and Rinteln (Schaumburg district), blocked.
Videos
Videoconference with no concrete result
Yesterday afternoon, the State Agriculture Minister, Barbara Otte-Kinast (CDU), discussed the situation with representatives of the parties in conflict. However, the videoconference, which was attended by representatives of Lower Saxony dairies, Aldi-Nord, Lidl, Edeka, agricultural associations and a market expert from the Chamber of Agriculture, did not produce results. There should be another meeting in four weeks, and then it should discuss concrete solution concepts, Otte-Kinast promised. “Our agriculture meets higher standards. But that is not reflected in the box,” said the minister. Now it takes a joint effort from politicians, farmers, dairies and retailers and no blame is required. The conference was after Locks had been initiated at several stores at the Lidl discount store.
Farmers do not meet specific commitments
Farmers criticize the fact that no promises of aid have been made to them in the current crisis and no real prospects for the future. The atmosphere was at least constructive and the willingness to dialogue among all those involved was noted, said the working group on rural agriculture and the alliance “Land creates connection” after the virtual meeting.
More information
