The caravan of agricultural producers from Veracruz, Puebla, and Tlaxcala, who are protesting the National Water Law, warned that they are prepared to remain in the nation’s capital for a month.
This afternoon, as the reform is being prepared for debate in the Chamber of Deputies, the farmers are maintaining their blockade of all access points to the San Lázaro legislative complex, along Emiliano Zapata Street, with their tractors, and say they are ready to take action.
José Rosales Rendón, a producer from Veracruz, announced that they have equipped themselves with a truck full of non-perishable food, portable toilets, stoves, tortillas, and refrigerators, to remain in Mexico City for at least 30 days. During this time, he said, they will travel around the capital, including a visit to the National Palace.
“Where are you going?” he was asked.
“To see the Virgin Mary, to visit the National Palace, which we haven’t had the pleasure of seeing,” he stated in an interview.
Rosales Rendón denied belonging to any organization and expressed his opposition to the project launched by the Executive branch because it proposes water rationing.
“Our federal authority wants to modify the National Water Law, and that will harm us. They want us to save water. Do you live on a small glass of water a day? No, you use a liter bottle. So they want us to cultivate and produce with a minimal amount, and that’s not fair. It’s not consistent,” he complained.
He also requested that facilities be provided to regularize concessions dating back to 1940 and a subsidy for electricity.
“Farm producers need to have every possible support because they’re the ones who supply the city with food. A serious problem many of us face is that many permits have expired.
“In their petition, the farmers are asking for every possible assistance to renew all their permits, both existing and future, for those with permits from the 1940s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, or 2000s. We need support to keep working, because without the electricity subsidy, the cost of electricity has increased by almost 1,000 percent,” he explained.
The Veracruz producer reported that they set out last Monday and traveled nearly 400 kilometers with their tractors, which is equivalent to harvesting 200 hectares. That’s 20 uninterrupted days of work.
Source: reforma
