02/24/2020 - 9:13
- Clarín.com
- Politics
One of the sectors that were on alert almost from the first day of Alberto Fernández's government is the field. The increase in export withholdings approved by Congress with the Economic Emergency Law, and 3% of soybeans that were suspended, generated a scenario of latent conflict with producers, with some sources of growing conflict.
During the weekend it was revealed that the President would announce next Sunday, at the opening of the ordinary sessions of Congress, the application of that 3%, and there is even talk of some extra increase. Therefore, from the field they warn that, if that happens, the conflict will escalate significantly.
" Such a measure would fall very badly. In addition, they promised relief to the sector and, so far, they did not comply. Our sector is one of those that is having a bad time, and it is one that is being asked for an effort ”, Said Carlos Achetoni, head of the Agrarian Federation, on Monday.
In radio statements, the businessman warned that there is "a distancing from the government" and that "there was no fluid dialogue" promised by the Executive.
"For us the climb is a transcendent, we are respectful of the deadlines and we will wait to speak with Minister Basterra," said Achetoni, referring to the meeting scheduled for this week between the Liaison Bureau and the Minister of Agriculture.
“For us, small and medium producers are very complicated with 30% and, without differential treatment, with 33% it will be very difficult. And obviously if there is no differentiated treatment, it will be very difficult for us to contain our own representation of more complicated producers, ”he added.
Finally, given the chance of intensifying protests, Achetoni said "there is some possibility", although he minimized that they could have the magnitude of what happened in 2008.
"At that time there were 10 points of retention differences, but soybeans were almost double, so these 3 points are very significant," he concluded.
Last week, the Liaison Bureau held a meeting with the possibility of announcing a cessation of grain marketing. But Basterra's call calling them to a meeting halted the announcement.
"The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries communicated to call us to have a meeting next week, so we agreed to wait for that meeting and after it, and based on its results, define the next steps to follow," The entities explained in a statement released jointly after the conclave.
JPE