Several thousand farmers protested the low prices Saturday they receive for their products, saying that commercial middlemen take too high a cut.
Farmers from around the country stopped traffic downtown as they marched behind tractors from the central Cibeles fountain down the city's main Castellana boulevard to the agriculture ministry under banners saying "Fair prices, sales with dignity."
Miguel Lopez, head of the organization of agricultural workers, said that prices for food products cultivated in Spain's countryside had not mirrored increases in the consumer price index.
Lopez said many of those involved in Spain's agricultural sector were going through "extremely difficult times" and needed government help.
The ministry of agriculture is to meet in December to discuss agricultural policy and farmers wanted to ensure a fairer deal and that existing subsidies are not cut back, said Catalan regional farm leader Matias Llorente.
Llorente said the ministry should work to lower the amount of the total sales price claimed by middlemen, allowing a greater amount to go to producers.
