BERLIN, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of German farmers gathered here on Tuesday to protest against the government's agricultural policy.
Around 5,000 tractors had taken part in the protests, according to organizers. A spokesperson for the Berlin police confirmed to Xinhua that "considerably more" had come.
Among other things, the protests were against the government's stricter regulations on insect and environmental protection measures and further restrictions on the use of fertilizers to protect groundwater.
The farmers were highly critical of the proposed ban on the use of herbicide glyphosate. "Increased mechanical weed control prior to sowing, which must take place instead of glyphosate application, also has negative effects on the environment", they argued.
Mechanical weed control would lead to higher diesel consumption and an increase in the risk of nitrate leaching, soil erosion, humus degradation and the release of CO2, said the farmers.
"It is not a question of whether we protect insects, it is a question of how. Cooperative nature conservation must be the way forward", stressed Joachim Rukwied, president of the German Farmers' Association (DBV), demanding that farmers, politicians and society "must work together to find solutions."
During the protests, German Environment Minister Svenja Schulze campaigned for clear rules to protect groundwater and insects. She wanted farmers to be "part of the solution", stressing that it was also necessary to have "clear rules".
According to the German Ministry of Food and Agriculture, there would be a separate meeting with representatives of the agricultural sector to discuss the details of individual measures in the near future.
