Real estate market or social commitment: The new paths of the agricultural chambers of the Plan

PalmThree years ago, the Catalan government gifted the former agricultural chambers to the three agricultural organizations and some local councils. Now, three years later, these old buildings are following a mixed path. UPA-AIA has just sold the house that was once owned by Montuïri. Unió de Pagesos, after an internal debate, will transfer the Sant Joan agricultural chamber to Ibavi, from which two or three social housing units could be created. Finally, Asaja has stated that it intends to maintain ownership of the Sencelles agricultural chamber and under no circumstances sell it.

Let us remember that these entities were founded and purchased by the farmers of each town as social headquarters for the farmers. It was in June 2022 that the Ministry of Agriculture donated 10 properties and €628,000 to the different entities. Asaja was awarded a ground floor apartment in the Plaza de Santa Eulalia in Palma, and the Sencelles agricultural chamber. At the Unió de Pagesos de Mallorca (Mexican Farmers' Union), an apartment in Plaza de Santa Eulalia in Palma and the Sant Joan Agricultural Chamber. At the UPA-AIA (Mexican Farmers' Union), two apartments on Anselm Clavé Street in Palma and the Montuïri Agricultural Chamber. The Llucmajor Agricultural Chamber was transferred to the local cooperative; the Consell Agricultural Chamber to the City Council; and the Ferreries Agricultural Chamber to the City Council.

The Montuïri Agricultural Chamber, until now owned by the UPA-AIA agricultural organization, has recently been sold, as confirmed by the organization to Tot Pla. The proceeds from the transaction will be used entirely to improve the Palma offices, enhance the services the organization offers its members, and also to purchase a closer office, especially in Campos and the Migjorn area of Mallorca, where a large part of the organization's membership is concentrated.

"We have considered that our resources should be focused on where the farmers and ranchers who need us every day are. Therefore, we will allocate this money to strengthen infrastructure and expand offices in places where we have the greatest presence and activity," explained Joana Mascaró, manager of UPA-AIA.

The decision to sell the building on Carrer de Baix de Montuïri is in addition to the future of the rest of the former spaces historically owned by farmers, such as the agricultural chambers of Sant Joan and Sencelles.

Thus, one of the most notable transactions is that of the Sant Joan agricultural chamber, which Unió de Pagesos de Mallorca (UP) has decided not to sell but to transfer to Ibavi to use it as social housing. This entity also received the property as part of the distribution of the assets of the former agricultural chambers carried out by the Government.

Unió de Pagesos had initially offered the space in the Sant Joan Town Hall, but the City Council ruled out its purchase or renovation. Some time later, a German real estate developer expressed interest in acquiring the building, opening an internal debate within the agrarian organization.

Ultimately, it has decided to remain faithful to its founding principles and reject any speculative operation.

"We cannot contribute to the gentrification of our towns. As a historical entity, we must have a social perspective that is consistent with the reality of the territory," argued an internal source at Unió de Pagesos.

Thus, while part of the historic agrarian heritage is being sold to strengthen direct services to the sector—as UPA-AIA has done in Montuïri—other entities such as UP choose to put it at the service of the right to housing and collective well-being.

Unió de Pagesos

The organization's final decision was to forgo any financial benefits, out of consistency with its founding values and its connection to the region.

The Sant Joan building is one that the town's farmers have always felt strongly about, and like other towns, they saw its transfer to agricultural organizations as a "lesser evil."

We must remember that these buildings were part of the historical heritage purchased by the farmers of each municipality. The former agricultural chambers were created in 1977 as advisory bodies for the rural world.

With this decision, Unió de Pagesos reinforces its commitment to a living, accessible, and rooted village model and sends a clear message: community spaces must continue to serve the community.

Agricultural chambers were created in Spain in 1977, after the Franco dictatorship, to serve as advisory bodies to the public administration on matters related to agriculture and livestock.

Despite being advisory, they had some representation of the agricultural sector and their own infrastructure, financed by the farmers themselves.

Over the years, especially since the 21st century, these entities have lost weight and funding. In many autonomous communities, such as the Balearic Islands, they were dissolved or ceased to have active functions, and the assets went to the Government, who, after several attempts to sell them, chose to transfer them.