The Spanish government is preparing measures together with the autonomous communities to attract young people to rural areas

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will develop, together with the Autonomous Communities, a series of measures aimed at promoting generational change in rural areas, it was stated at a sectoral monographic conference aimed at young people held in Pamplona.

The aim is for agriculture to become a source of opportunities for young people Minister Luis Planas has asked the regional councillors to join forces. He also explained that the help of the Common Agricultural Policy (PAC), but other measures must be taken to attract young people to the countryside and guarantee their future.

The Minister of Food, Rural Development, Agriculture and Fisheries of the Basque Government, Amaia Barredostressed that the ministry has approved most of the Basque Government’s proposals to change the PAC’s strategic plan.

However, he has called on the European Commission to “put pressure” on Luis Planas to make changes to the basic rules of the CAP “without waiting for a strategic reflection” on the next reform.

Family farming bill

The Minister stressed that the regulatory instrument will be the bill for the future of family farming, and that it will contain many of the legal changes needed to define the measures required to meet the challenge of generational change.

The conference expressed the need to work on increasing public awareness about agricultural activities, by providing specific advice to young people and innovation, in order to make the sector attractive and profitable.

CAP funds for young people

As Planes explained, the national strategic plan allocates 220 million euros annually to support the establishment of new farmers and ranchers, which amounts to a total of 1,150 million for the period up to 2027. This plan provides for the integration of almost 16,000 young people into agricultural activity.