Thousands of Galician Farmers Lose Permits Amidst Training Course Fraud

Galician Farmers Face Setback After Fraudulent Training Course Invalidates Thousands of Permits Galicia, Spain – Thousands of Galician farmers are facing a significant challenge during the crucial spring planting season. A recent investigation uncovered a fraudulent training course in the Bierzo region that resulted in the invalidation of approximately 7,000 phytosanitary product handling cards. This means many farmers cannot legally purchase the products necessary for crop treatment. Carlos Basalo, responsible for Unións Agrarias in Ourense province, explains the situation: "People started to find out when they went to phytosanitary product stores, and the seller told them their card wasn’t valid." The fraud involved a course that did not meet the required standards, leaving farmers with invalid permits. This has created significant uncertainty and hardship for those affected. Sergio Rodríguez, a seller of phytosanitary products, confirmed the issue: "I've had cards in my hand, with the accompanying ID, looked it up, and it didn’t appear. I can't sell to them. I have to be sure that card exists." The regional government has pledged to expedite the process of obtaining new permits, but the immediate impact on the spring planting season is significant. This situation highlights the importance of rigorous oversight of agricultural training programs and the potential consequences of fraud in this sector.