display
Schwerin (dpa / mv) - In their resistance to stricter requirements for insect protection, the farmers get support from the FDP.
"The fact that bans are now being imposed without sufficient consultation with farmers and that new areas are designated as FFH areas without transparent and data-based justification is destroying the profitability of many businesses," complained on Monday of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's FDP state chief René Domke.
He spoke out in favor of the application of Europe-wide regulations, “also in order to avoid any competitive disadvantages for German farmers”.
In the previous week, the federal government had passed a legislative package to curb the rapid death of insects.
For example, the use of pesticides in protected areas is to be severely restricted and in some cases prohibited, and the minimum distance to bodies of water is to be increased.
Conventional farmers fear economic losses due to the restrictive use of pesticides and are defending themselves with protest actions.
State Agriculture and Environment Minister Till Backhaus (SPD) admitted that agriculture is currently facing huge challenges, but at the same time referred to the need for climate and species protection.
He therefore expects the farmers' association to propose specific solutions "instead of constant lamentation", especially since environmental services by agricultural businesses in the northeast were rewarded with 70 million euros in government grants in the previous year alone.
Domke accused Backhaus of adding fuel to the fire with his remarks instead of advocating solutions that “did not unilaterally burden the farmers”.
display
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210215-99-453698 / 2