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Areas Urbanism & territory, Tourism and Economic activities Agriculture, Livestock, Fishing & Hunting

Formentera renews feed handouts for drought-hit livestock farmers

foto 2022 menjar ramatThe Formentera Office of Rural Affairs has announced a new tranche of assistance amid the drought that has seen local livestock farmers' feed stocks dwindle. The Formentera Farmers' Co-operative (Cooperativa del Camp, CCF) will distribute 40 tonnes of feed and chopped carob for sheep and goats, and 4,000 kilos of barley flour for pigs.

"Another exceptionally dry year is affecting crops and means supplies of livestock feed are low", explained Josep Marí, Councillor of Rural Affairs, "so we are bringing back this aid to which the Consell de Formentera allocates an initial budget of €14,945."

Interested parties should take their stockbreeder's card (cartilla ramadera) to the CCF warehouse from 8.00am to 2.00pm (Monday to Friday); 4.30pm to 7.30pm (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) or 9.00am to 1.00pm (Saturdays). Aid will be distributed according to the number of animals and breeding animals are eligible for two sacks of feed. According to recent census data, there are 913 head of sheep, goat and pig on the island of Formentera.

17 March 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

Visit to CCF's fig tree plantation in Can Marroig

foto 2022 figueres can marroig AToday Ana Juan, President of the Consell de Formentera; Miquel Mir, Balearic Minister of Environment; Josep Marí, Councillor of Rural Affairs; Carlos Marí, Manager of the Formentera Farmers' Co-operative (Cooperativa del Camp, CCF); and Llorenç Mas, General Director of the Balearic Office of Natural Spaces and Biodiversity, paid a visit to the Can Marroig estate. At the meeting, the CCF's fig tree planting project was presented.

President Juan praised the CCF for enabling recovery of a traditional agricultural in a protected area and "one that will see our homegrown produce return to local markets".
 
Carlos Marí offered an overview of the project, which has seen CCF workers line two hectares of Can Marroig with 675 trees, including 12 varieties, for staggered fig production throughout the season. "We hope to start harvesting the first figs in June", confided Marí, describing it as "an intensive plantation tailored for maximum yield".
 
"When the farm is at full capacity we expect annually to harvest eight tonnes of figs for the local market. Fresh figs will be sold, but we will also try to recover and promote dried figs, including xereques", Marí added, referring to a type of fig which is dried using a technique unique to Formentera. Finally, CCF representatives applauded students of the training workshop held recently in Can Marroig and Ibanat workers for their help with planting.

Minister Mir highlighted "the recovery of one of the traditional uses of an iconic public estate thanks to collaboration between administrations and entities". "We often think of forest management as a tool that functions exclusively to prevent fires, but it is also a way to recover land and make it richer and better equipped to face the climate emergency", he added.

Collective planting plan

The Agricultural and Fishing Guarantee Fund of the Balearic Islands (Fons de Garantia Agrària i Pesquera, FOGAIBA) has granted a subsidy of €9,990 to the plantation, a project which is included in the collective replanting plan which the CCF oversees with help from a dozen members. CCF representatives explained that the 2021-2022 plan involves planting about 4,000 trees, particularly olive and fig trees, with funding support from FOGAIBA.

Supporting the CCF

Councillor Marí pointed out that, since March 2015, when the CCF was reactivated, the Consell de Formentera has subsidised operations with yearly concerted action agreements; in 2022 the grant totalled €130,000. Taken together, concerted action agreements between 2015 and 2021 amounted to €751,413. The Consell de Formentera also built the CCF's warehouse space, and more recently has provided a grain storage and conservation station as well as the machinery required to work the land turned over for the Farmland Reserve (Fons de Terres de Cultiu), which today encompasses 279 hectares donated from 120 individuals.
 
As Councillor Marí put it, "the aim of all the operations we support is to recover the primary sector and maintain Formentera's historic landscape by continuing to promote local agriculture". He praised "all the work done" in that regard.
 
Hand-off agreement

In May 2016, the Consell, Govern balear and Balearic Nature Institute (Institut Balear de la Natura, IBANAT), which holds the title of Can Marroig, signed an agreement clearing the decks for the return of agricultural activity to the estate, and in May 2021 the arrangement was renewed for five more years. The concerted action agreement allows the CCF to use Can Marroig's twelve hectares of arable land for farming.

24 February 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

Formentera to open line of aid for livestock farmers this 2022

foto 2022 ovelles ALast week Josep Marí, Councillor of Rural Environment, met with Juan Antonio Yern, President of the Association of Livestock Farmers of Formentera (Associació de Ramaders, ARF) and Carlos Marí, manager of the local agricultural co-operative (Cooperativa del Camp). Also on hand at the meeting were Loana Fraga, the veterinarian in charge of the ARF's animal health and hygiene group and Pamela Ferrer, the Consell de Formentera's veterinary specialist.

Farmers took the opportunity to express their concern about dog attacks on local livestock. Between December and January there were three fatal attacks involving two lambs and one ewe as well as other attacks that left six ewes injured. Councillor Marí explained that "since last July there is a new protocol for joint action between the pound and the local police so that complaints of dogs found without owner are processed more quickly". 43 such complaints were made in 2021. Associated fines range from €30 to €300.

Councillor Marí also called to mind the push piloted by the Consell last November to safeguard the welfare of pets and livestock by educating dog owners about the importance of not letting animals off property unaccompanied. To that end, Marí once again asked islanders to notify the pound at 630 083 128 if any off-lead dogs are seen without their owner.

The councillor highlighted local government's support for livestock farmers, which he described as "vital for the island's countryside and landscape". In that regard, Marí announced a €30,000 line of subsidies in 2022 for professional livestock and agriculture. A portion of the total will be used to help farmers who meet conditions based on, among other things, how many breeding animals they possess.

Livestock census

It was also announced that the period for mandatory declarations for the livestock census is open until 28 February. Farmers should contact the Formentera Office of Rural Affairs (Conselleria de Medi Rural, CMRF), Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 2.00pm, located at Centre Antoni Tur "Gabrielet".

Meeting participants additionally discussed operations at the slaughterhouse and proposed possible changes in opening hours to enhance use. Consell employees also asked representatives of the sector about the training courses they would be interested in programming in 2022.

2 February 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

cartell 2022 cans stories

Formentera activates awareness push to protect local livestock

The Formentera Office of Rural Environment has published an informational poster to remind animal owners that, as a safety measure for both pets and livestock, unaccompanied dogs must remain on their owner's property at all times.

To keep pets from running away or getting lost or run over, and to ensure the safety of livestock, islanders with dogs are reminded that these animals may not leave the house alone and must be on a lead whilst in public spaces. Islanders who see dogs off leash or without an owner are encouraged to phone the pound at 630.083.128. Featured on the posters is a watercolour painting by artist Fran Lucas where a leashed dog can be seen walking with its owner while nearby sheep stand in the shade of a fig tree.

Posters will go up in the island's main display cases, veterinary clinics and rural areas. So far this year the Consell de Formentera has received three complaints of dog attacks on island livestock: two in Sant Francesc (La Miranda/Cala Saona and Porto-Salè) and one in La Mola. A total of seven sheep were killed and two were injured. In addition, in recent weeks some livestock owners have reported seeing off-leash dogs on their farms.

Councillor of Rural Affairs Josep Marí insisted that, for the island's livestock farmers, the damage is incalculable, as the loss of animals is compounded by the distress of knowing one's property has been trespassed upon and one's livestock has been harmed. Marí underscored the important role of livestock owners, insisting the small farmers "preserve the island's traditions and landscape".

Municipal ordinance

The local ordinance on pets bans "unaccompanied and off-leash dogs from public areas" and indicates that "owners of dogs whose temperament so requires must fit their pets with a muzzle". The ban also includes information on legislation concerning potentially dangerous dogs, defining the term as "markedly aggressive canines and those having attacked people or other animals".


9 November 2021
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

cartell 2021 cans

Formentera activates campaign to check trichinosis

The Formentera Office of Agriculture and Livestock (Conselleria d'Agricultura i Ramaderia/CAR) has lauched a push to test meat from domestic hog slaughters in a bid to control spread of trichinosis.

Trichinosis is a parasitic disease people can catch by eating raw or undercooked pig, boar and horse meat and sausage like sobrassada which hasn’t undergone thermic treatment. The best way to avoid getting triquinosis is to test pork from traditional hog slaughters.

To perform the test, from 1 November to 30 March 2021 interested islanders can visit the CAR at Centre Antoni Tur "Gabrielet" between 9.00am and 2.00pm, send an email toagricultura@conselldeformentera.cat or telephone 971 321 087. CAR staff will provide material and instructions on sample collection and information from partner veterinarians who test for triquinosis to ensure meat is safe for consumption.

5 November 2021
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

cartell 2021 triquina porcs

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