Misiones Producers Demand Census to Clean Up Registries and Call for Fair Price in Hambre Cero

In San Patricio, Misiones, the president of the Jaiko porâve rekavo Small Producers Association, Luis Benítez, asked Agriculture Minister Carlos Giménez Gaona to conduct a census to clean up producer registries, claiming many declare themselves farmers without producing. He also demanded from Governor Richard Ramírez better payment conditions from Belmac SA, the company responsible for the Hambre Cero program, which does not accept paying a fair price and delays payments. The MAG delivered a tractor with agricultural implements worth approximately G. 800 million.

The president of the Jaiko porâve rekavo Small Producers Association, Luis Benítez, asked Agriculture and Livestock Minister (MAG) Carlos Giménez Gaona on Wednesday to clean up the registry of rural producers in Misiones. The request came during the delivery of a tractor with agricultural implements to the association at the Potrerito Ybate farm in San Patricio.

“In Misiones there are many who call themselves farmers and are not; some leaders claim to have 3,000 people in their associations, but you don’t see where the production is, if there are so many producers. A census is necessary to clean up the registries. This will allow resources to reach those who truly deserve them,” Benítez said.

The leader also addressed Misiones Governor Richard Ramírez (ANR – HC) to request more opportunities for supplying horticultural products to Belmac SA, the company in charge of school meal service through the Hambre Cero program. Benítez stated that no producer from San Patricio is supplying the firm because the company does not accept paying a fair price and often delays payment by more than a month, causing daily losses.

In response, Richard Ramírez highlighted that the departmental government works and coordinates with the productive sector, listens to suggestions and complaints, and stated that the company responsible for the service is open to collaborating with local farmers.

The MAG delivered the tractor and its implements to the Jaiko porâve rekavo Small Producers Association, with an investment of approximately G. 800 million. Benítez reported that the efforts had the support of Senator Derlis Maidana (ANR – HC), who mentioned that this would be the sixth tractor delivered in Misiones.