Paraguay's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) held a meeting on Tuesday with vegetable producers to discuss expanding national production and transitioning from a seasonal supply to a more continuous one. The goal is to strengthen family farming and increase its participation in the Hambre Cero school feeding program, which currently requires that 10% of the contract value from supplier companies be used to purchase products from these farmers.
Minister Carlos Giménez highlighted that the Hambre Cero program represents a significant business opportunity. “We have the capacity to produce much more, but we need guarantees that all production can be marketed,” he said. He stressed that the goal is not only to meet the minimum 10% threshold but to allow producers to achieve 100% participation as direct suppliers to companies, especially during peak harvest periods.
Giménez explained that during times of lower availability of certain vegetables or tubers, MAG seeks to offer alternatives of similar quality, leveraging the productive capacity of farmers. “We want producers to seize the business opportunity and achieve 100% participation as suppliers to companies, especially during the peak production season,” he said.
The ministry also plans to encourage crops that adapt to the country's predominantly hot climate, allowing production during more months of the year. The minister noted that all groups assisted by MAG must be formalized to market their products with any company or client.