TRAINING AND RESOURCES FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS
ASAJA Aragón Secretary-General Ramón Solanilla recalls that the organization already submitted several proposals to the regional government in June to strengthen the agricultural sector's participation in wildfire prevention and firefighting. These include specific courses so that those who assist with these tasks can join Civil Protection units with the necessary training and safety measures, as well as funding for equipment and machinery.
ASAJA insists that farmers and ranchers have their own resources and first-hand knowledge of the land, which can be useful when a wildfire breaks out. It therefore advocates more organized and stable cooperation to make use of tractors and other agricultural machinery both for preventive work and to support firefighting efforts when necessary.
AID FOR COSTS INCURRED DURING THE WILDFIRES
The organization is also calling for an urgent aid program to compensate for actions carried out this summer, such as fuel consumed, fields plowed to create firebreaks or the use of agricultural machinery. "Farmers cannot be asked to step up in the most difficult moments and then have the costs of that cooperation forgotten," Solanilla said.
