Tractorada in Barcelona: hundreds of farmers enter via Diagonal and Meridiana

Barcelona is facing a morning of mobility issues due to a new tractor protest. Farmers from different parts of Catalunya set out early with their agricultural vehicles to gather in the centre of the Catalan capital.

The convoys are entering the city via Avinguda Diagonal and Avinguda Meridiana, two of the main routes into Barcelona.

The demonstration aims to draw attention to the economic difficulties facing the farming sector, especially due to rising fuel, fertiliser, and other production costs.

Where will the tractors go in Barcelona?

According to the organisers, participants have formed around twenty convoys coming from various Catalan counties.

The planned route includes two main points:

12:00: gathering in front of the Delegación del Gobierno in Barcelona.

After the gathering: moving towards Plaça de Sant Jaume, right in the city centre.

The entry of tractors via Diagonal and Meridiana may cause delays and traffic disruptions, especially on the approaches to Barcelona and on streets near the gathering points.

No exact end time for the protest has been announced.

Why are the farmers protesting?

The tractor protest is organised by Unió de Pagesos, which denounces the lack of solutions to the structural problems facing Catalan agriculture.

One of the main concerns is the rising costs needed to keep farms running.

Farmers warn that the increasing price of fuel and fertilisers is threatening the economic viability of some farms.

On top of this are international instability, the effects of climate change, and difficulties in securing prices that cover production costs.

Fair prices, support, and access to water

Unió de Pagesos’ demands go beyond the increase in costs.

The union is calling for fair prices for agricultural products and direct support to offset the consequences of international and climate crises.

They are also asking for measures to regulate the price of farmland and to protect agricultural areas from large projects that could reduce the available surface area.

Water is another key issue. Farmers are demanding access to quality water resources and that agricultural activity be prioritised during droughts.

They are also requesting plans to control wild animal populations that damage crops, along with a new hunting law.

In the case of rice, they are calling for the Unión Europea to activate a market intervention mechanism in response to a series of unfavourable commercial seasons.

Another farmers’ protest in the centre of Barcelona

This is not the first time tractors have come to Barcelona to demand changes in agricultural policy.

The sector has already staged previous demonstrations to highlight the loss of profitability in farming and to demand measures to ensure its survival.

This time, the protest once again brings the agricultural conflict to the city centre, with a demonstration that could affect traffic for much of the day.

Anyone planning to travel via Diagonal, Meridiana, or around Plaça de Sant Jaume should check the traffic situation and possible changes to public transport before heading out.