Farmers drive tractors from across Catalonia to Barcelona in renewed protest

Farmers are protesting once again. Early Friday morning, dozens of tractors set off from several points across Catalonia with the aim of reaching Barcelona.

The agricultural sector is mobilizing again, two years after historic protests that brought Barcelona to a standstill and flooded the city with tractors.

Today’s protest, however, is not expected to be as disruptive. Farmers said they will allow access to the city "out of solidarity."

Farmers plan to camp in front of the headquarters of the Agriculture Department, located on Gran Via, next to Plaça Catalunya.

According to the farmers, one column of tractors will enter Barcelona via the Meridiana, while another will do so through the Vallvidrera tunnels and Via Augusta.

The protest is aimed at the government’s failure to comply with agreements reached a month ago, when the European Union approved the deal with Mercosur countries.

Farmers argue that the agreement would place them at a competitive disadvantage, leaving them unable to compete with lower-priced imports from South American countries.

Some of the agreements made by the government include increased funding for the Agriculture Department to enforce stricter controls on products arriving from outside Europe.

The first march began in Girona at 7 am, with around 20 tractors and several cars setting off. They are expected to join another column coming from central Catalonia, bringing together farmers from the Osona, Bages and Vallès regions.

Tractors from the Tarragona and Lleida regions have also begun marching.