The First Regional Agrarian Summit of Arequipa became the improvised, but perfect setting for several farmers to demand solutions from the Minister of Agrarian Development and Irrigation, Óscar Zea Choquechambi, regarding the agrarian problem that the country has been experiencing for several years. years ago.
The event was planned to deal with aspects of the Second Agrarian Reform, promised by the government of Pedro Castillo Terrones. However, it became a space for angry demands and calls for the resignation of the newly appointed minister.
Between shouts, the representatives of the users’ boards and farmers’ associations rejected more round tables and dialogue and instead urged the minister to provide solutions regarding the rise in the price of fertilizers, the problem of rice, the regulation of price range that allows the importation of products at a lower cost and breaks the local market, among other points.
The organizers of the event did not allow them to speak at first, so the farmers had to shout their demands in the auditorium, before the astonished gaze of the minister and a group of regional authorities, including Governor Kimmerlee Gutiérrez Canahuire.
STOP AND RESIGNATION. Víctor Chirinos, representative of the farmers of the Majes Valley, showed his annoyance at what he considers a “back” from Minister Zea and announced a 48-hour strike for next February 21 and 22.
He asked for a state of emergency to be declared in the sector.
According to what he said, the farmers from the Ocoña, Camaná, Majes and Tambo Valley user associations would join the force measure, in addition to agricultural unions, agrarian defense fronts, associations of agricultural producers, among other organizations that yesterday were present at the event.
The leaders, tired of “rocking” demanded the minister’s resignation because they considered that he is not a competent professional to assume one of the most problematic ministerial portfolios in the country. “He is a teacher,” they shouted from the stands.
POLITICAL WILL. After more than 20 minutes of protests, Óscar Zea stood before the media and asked for order.
“Complaints and inconveniences are natural, but if we don’t order ourselves, we won’t be able to move forward. We come here to listen to them and after working in workshops the conclusions will be written down and that will be an important input for us to give an agile and concrete response to the problem”, he said. At another time, Zea said he was able to lead the strings of one of the portfolios with the greatest problems in the country.
“It is natural that there are others who do not agree with the designation, in every sector there is opposition, we have to ask for calm because there is a will to work and I am also trained. I know how to read, I am a professional, I am going to conduct myself according to the ways we have in different sectors, but apart from that, I reiterate, there is that will because I come from that group of farmer brothers in front of them, ”he said.
Regarding the Majes Siguas II project, the minister said that they met with the regional governor and have proposed speeding up the project through meetings with the PCM, the president and the technicians. “The Midagri has to channel the project, it has to summon the actors”.
