Remembrance marches in the canton of Zurich: despite milk success, farmers continue to demonstrate

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The farmers’ protests continue – the farmers achieved another success on Friday. From July, the milk price will increase by three cents to 82 cents per kilo. What may not sound like much to laypeople, is “a strong sign” from the point of view of chairman Martin Haab (61), chairman of the Zurich Farmers’ Association. The farmers have asked for four cents more since April, but were actually already expecting a zero round.

In anticipation of the defeat, Zurich farmers had called for protest marches on Friday evening. And these will happen regardless of the compromise found at the negotiating table. Because you’re still not satisfied. ‘Warning marches’ take place and fires are lit in Affoltern am Albis, Bülach and Hinwil. According to the Zurich farmers’ association, more than 1,000 participants are expected.

The protest is aimed at major distributors

The farmers’ association informed its members that it should be a “sympathetic, peaceful performance”. Tractors, loud shouting and noise were emphatically not welcome. You definitely don’t want to turn the population against you.

Unlike the farmer protests in other countries, the farmers’ anger is not primarily directed against politics, but rather against the major distributors. The farmers accuse them of skimming excessive margins from their own pockets. The farmers’ union demands that farmers receive five to ten percent more for grain, beef cattle or milk.

Already the second victory

The demand for higher producer prices is not new. Just like farmers’ anger about the ever-increasing number of new regulations. Regarding the latter, the farmers also achieved a surprising victory this week. The National Council spoke in favor of overturning a new organic regulation on fields before it even went into effect.

Farmers’ Union chairman Markus Ritter (56) is convinced that the farmers’ protests of recent weeks were the deciding factor. Dairy farmer Martin Haab from Zurich believes that the surprising compromise on milk prices can also be attributed to the protests. On the eve of the negotiations, hundreds of farmers across Switzerland gathered with their tractors to demand, among other things, higher milk prices. “I firmly believe that grassroots pressure has helped us get more money for our milk soon.”

Source:Blick