Por Redaccion 
PSOE and Convocatoria vote against, and Tomé abstains in the PP’s PNL, which is rejected
The Ministry of Rural and Agricultural Policy will allocate 580,000 euros in aid to alleviate the losses caused in the harvest of Asturian faba and verdina beans due to adverse weather conditions and the plant diseases derived from them in the 2024-2025 campaign.
The Minister, Marcelino Marcos, announced this measure on Wednesday during his appearance in the General Assembly, in response to questions from the Mixto Group’s deputy, Covadonga Tomé. The Asturian leader emphasized the Government of Asturias’ commitment to the production of these two varieties, one with a protected geographical indication (PGI) and the other with a quality mark.
Marcos explained that the 131 producers of Faba Asturiana PGI will receive 2,200 euros for each of the 215 certified hectares they cultivate. On the other hand, the growers of the quality mark Verdina de Asturias will receive 2,000 euros for each of their 52 hectares.
These subsidies aim to mitigate the effects caused by the excessive rains of last spring, which severely affected the faba and verdina bean harvest due to the proliferation of fungi and diseases. These factors, combined with the lack of wind to aerate the plantations and the intense humidity, led to a 60% decrease in production compared to previous seasons.
Furthermore, the ministry will take measures in terms of research to combat the pests affecting these crops. The Principality will implement two trials on farms with biological control methods, one in the east and one in the west, to investigate the impact of faba beans with its own resources. This action will be carried out in collaboration with producers and technical staff from the Faba Asturiana regulatory council.
In addition, support will be sought from other administrations, such as the University of Oviedo or the Regional Service for Agri-food Research and Development, to research the development of biological pesticides to combat these pests.
NON-LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL
Subsequently, in the same committee, the PP’s non-legislative proposal on boosting exceptional aid for faba bean producers was discussed. Vox added, through an amendment that was accepted, that the aid should be for all producers, not just those with PGI status.
The proposed text also requested authorization from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAPA) to allow the commercialization and use of unauthorized phytosanitary products, on an exceptional basis and exclusively in the Principality of Asturias, once the inadequacy of those used so far has been confirmed, with the aim of effectively controlling pests.
However, the groups supporting the Government, PSOE and Convocatoria, decided to vote against, arguing that Marcos Líndez had already committed to what the initiative demanded. Covadonga Tomé expressed a similar sentiment, although she ultimately abstained.
The result was eight votes in favor (PP and Vox), eight against (PSOE and Convocatoria-IU), and one abstention, from the Mixto Group’s deputy Covadonga Tomé. The voting outcome caused some confusion in the Committee. A legal officer spoke, stating that a weighted vote should be taken, based on the number of deputies each group had. In the end, the Committee deemed the PNL rejected.