Agia-Cia: access to land, credit and services to boost crop rotation

Among the proposals set out in the document published by Agia-Cia , the top priority is access to land : a national observatory is needed to monitor the purchase, sale and rental prices of land; the strengthening of the National Agricultural Land Bank (ISMEA) and technical, economic and managerial support schemes for business succession. Next comes access to credit and investment: public guarantees are essential to reduce capital barriers; financing that is aligned with the timescales of agricultural investments and, fundamentally, greater access to European instruments, starting with the Loan Package from the EIB, the European Investment Bank.

The third priority concerns profitability and business consolidation. Here too, Agia-Cia is calling for the establishment of a national observatory dedicated to supply chains to monitor costs, revenues and margins, alongside the promotion of business networks amongst young farmers and collective measures to combat unfair commercial practices. The development of inland areas and local services remains a strategic objective, encouraging collaboration between farms, land reclamation consortia and local authorities for the maintenance of the land, water bodies and minor irrigation networks. All this without neglecting the need for farm replacement services in the event of illness, parenthood or family commitments, as well as training, and adequate remuneration for agri-environmental services.

Finally, the fifth pillar concerns the future of the Common Agricultural Policy and agricultural labour: at least 10 per cent of the resources in the post-2027 programming period must be allocated to generational renewal and secure funding must be provided for the EU Commission’s ‘Starter Pack’, to genuinely integrate funding, credit, training and technical assistance. As a condicio sine qua non, measures are needed to improve the quality of work, safety and access to labour. The document, Pagliarani added, “is also our contribution to the EU Strategy for Generational Renewal in Agriculture, so that no one forgets that it must be built together with us young people, who are already the future of the sector”.

“We have also emphasised this by demonstrating in the streets: we need binding commitments and effective measures to continue to make it clear, both in Italia and across Europe, that young people are the priority. There is no way out now; they won’t be fooled,” added CIA President Cristiano Fini. “We therefore support the initiative launched by AGIA-CIA and the strengthened dialogue with young people from political parties. Starting and developing a business, and generating an income from it, is a right that must be protected. The institutions have a duty to create the best conditions for this, through accessible measures and concrete solutions. We have both the responsibility and the honour of ensuring that all this happens, and as soon as possible.”