President Alberto Fernández stated that “The State has provided a set of instruments to support the most affected producers” due to the drought, and stressed that despite the fact that the climatic factor was adverse, exports from the agricultural sector “they were record” in 2022.
It was when he gave his speech before the Legislative Assembly, to inaugurate the 141st regular session of the National Congress.
Regarding the sector, the head of state contemplated that “the year closed with concerns generated by a very severe drought which, to a greater or lesser extent, has been affecting the production of wheat, barley, soybeans and corn”.
He then stressed that “in the face of these climatic difficulties, the State has provided a set of instruments to support the most affected producers, as we do with all sectors of our economy.”
“However, the sector’s exports during 2022 were record,” Fernández emphasized, specifying that “more than 142 million tons of cereals, oilseeds and other crops were produced.”
While, “in the 2021-2022 campaign, the planted area was more than 42 million hectares, a historical record”. Likewise, he added, “productive growth was also registered, in beef and pork, which reached levels never seen before.”
“The year closed with concerns about a very severe drought that, to a greater or lesser extent, has been affecting the production of wheat, barley, soybeans and corn.”Alberto Fernandez
“We work with all the regional economies, generating better conditions for their farms and productions,” concluded the head of state.
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, agricultural exports grew 8.5% in 2022 compared to 2021, totaling US$ 49,581 million.
The highest percentage growths were achieved by the meat and dairy items, with 20.7%, when selling for US$ 5,508 million dollars; wheat, with 35.4%; by adding US$ 4,723 million; and the accumulated amount of sunflower, barley and sorghum grew 41.4% as a whole, by completing sales of US$ 3,557 million.
According to a survey of the Undersecretary of Agriculture, soybean exports reached US$ 22,279 million, marking an increase of 2.5%; while those of corn climbed 2.7%, totaling US$ 9,543 million; while tobacco, wood and cotton reached US$ 803 million and marked a growth of 3%.
Likewise, in the 2020/2022 triennium there was a higher increase in production and exports compared to that between 2016 and 2018, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Census (Indec).
This increase was reflected in a higher volume of animal proteins, grains and by-products, especially the cumulative production of beef and poultry grew by 9% each.
This in turn promoted the transformation of grains into meat which strengthens a value-added scheme that translates into foreign currency and roots.
The production of beef went from 8.55 million tons to 9.28 million, while poultry meat from 6.37 million tons to 6.93 million.
For its part, pork production increased 27% (from 1.64 million tons to 2.08 million); and milk production 11% (30,916 million liters to 34,193 million).
