La Matanza Farmer Protests Urban Sprawl After Forced Herd Sale
La Matanza de Acentejo farmer José Manuel Martín is leading a protest today against urban encroachment, demanding a future for rural areas and farmers' rights after being forced to sell his livestock due to development pressures.
A growing conflict between traditional farming and urban development, a problem increasingly common across the islands, is now highlighted in La Matanza de Acentejo. Local livestock farmer, José Manuel Martín, is leading a public protest to demand a future for rural areas and protect the rights of the people who live and work there.
Martín, a dedicated farmer for over three decades, inherited his family's tradition and relies on it for his income. However, he was recently forced to sell his goat herd. This difficult decision has deeply affected his personal life and finances. It came after complaints from some neighbours in La Resbala, where he lives, and what he sees as a lack of help from the local council. La Resbala used to be a rural area with farms, but new homes have been built there. This has led to problems due to the animals and their impact on the new urban surroundings.
Because of this, Martín believes people need to act together to protect farmers' rights and save rural areas. The protest, which has government approval, is scheduled for today at the Farmers' Market in La Matanza de Acentejo, from 11 AM to 3 PM. The event hopes to highlight the demands of the farming sector and will include support from people like singer-songwriter Rogelio Botanz.