After numerous farmers' protests over the past two weeks, they are now calling for a "general mobilisation" of farmers on Tuesday, during which all access roads to the Antwerp port would be closed.
The start of the protest is scheduled for 05:00 on Tuesday, with the farmers thinking of an action lasting some 24 hours. With enough participants, the ports of Ghent and Zeebrugge could also be targeted again.
"A lot of farmers are not yet satisfied with what is on the table now," Wim Moyaert, coordinator of Farmers Forum, told Belga News Agency. "Farmers are not protesting to continue doing as they are doing today; they are taking to the streets because they want changes."
"There is no price guarantee or income security yet," he added. "And the fact that the reduction of pesticides is pushed aside is a very meagre result for the farmer."
'A key moment'
In the meantime, the Francophone Federation for Young Farmers (FJA) – which blocked a number of supermarkets' distribution centres last week – said that they would keep their tractors off the streets for the time being to give negotiations with the government a chance.
However, they are demanding "strong measures soon," they said on Saturday, adding that the willingness to protest among their members remains strong.
The decision to temporarily stop blockades of supermarket chains' distribution centres comes days after the first meeting of a task force set up following the demonstrations, which consists of ministers from different policy levels, as well as farmers and the distribution sector.
The first consultation went positively with some "unseen commitments," according to the FJA. Here, they refer to the promise to "work concretely on a fair price for the producer," for example.
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Previously, it was already revealed that, from Monday/today, several supermarkets would increase the prices they pay to beef farmers. There is talk of an increase of €0.50/kg of carcass weight, but that is insufficient, according to FJA. The federation demands a 25% price increase, "at the expense of actors in the chain, with no or very limited impact on consumers."
"We are at a key moment and the force of mobilisation is unprecedented," said FJA president Florian Poncelet. "We will go to the finish line if the measures do not give the agricultural sector the respect and importance it deserves."
