October 9, 2024, 4:00 AM
October 9, 2024, 4:00 AM
In dribs and drabs, this is how beef was sold yesterday in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. EL DEBER took a tour of some supply centers of the city and was able to corroborate that few stalls offered the product for sale.
The little meat that was for sale had a high price, between Bs 8 and Bs 10. For example, prime meat, was raised from Bs 35 to 45 and the second class, from Bs 30 to 38. Ground beef also rose from Bs 30 to 38. “Tomorrow (today) they will just bring it,” said a saleswoman from the Nuevo Plan 3000 market, while clarifying that the product they sold yesterday had been stored since last week.
In the Abasto market, prime meat such as loin was priced at Bs 45 and they announced that on Wednesday the supply would be normalized with “new meat.” In this market, some buyers, seeing the high prices, chose to buy pork or chicken.
Faced with this situation, pork and chicken marketers also raised prices. For example, chicken rose from Bs 15.50 to Bs 16.50, while the cut of pork leg rose from Bs 23 to Bs 25, as did the rib, from Bs 30 to Bs 32.
On Monday, after an agreement between the national government and the Confederation of Meat Workers of Bolivia (Contracabol), the strike
On Monday night, after the agreement signed between the Government and the executives of the Confederation of Meat Workers of Bolivia (Contracabol), the strike carried out by the butchers for 96 hours was lifted.
In the agreement, one of the points indicated that meat marketers commit to supplying this product regularly to the Bolivian population and lifting all announced pressure measures. “With the application of these measures, It is expected that the reference price of a kilo hook may fluctuate between Bs 22 and Bs 24.50”, explained the Minister of Productive Development and Plural Economy, Néstor Huanca.
Olivia Romero, a leader of the Abasto market, denounced that the agreement is not being fulfilled because the price of a kilo hook has risen from Bs 23 to Bs 26.50. “A price was agreed, a maximum of Bs 22 bolivianos at the local level and at a national level Bs 24.5, but today (yesterday) the slaughterhouses want to send us (the kilo hook) at Bs 28.30,” she said, annoyed.
With these prices, he added, the final sale to the consumer would have to be sold at Bs 50, the prime cuts. “We ask that exports be slowed down a little and that the domestic market be filled (first),” added the merchant.
Gonzalo Serrudo, president of Fedecarcruz (Meat Workers in Santa Cruz), also asked that slaughterhouses regulate their prices.
“We have dawned with a price (kilo hook) of Bs 26 and Bs 28, therefore, “We would have to believe that during the course of tomorrow (today) this reference price would have to be regulated,” he said.
Hernán Julio Nogales, president of the Confederation of Livestock Farmers of Bolivia (Congabol), highlighted that Exports provide the country with the generation of foreign currency, which are essential to avoid the increase in the family basket and do not affect the local price supply.
“Meat exports encourage an increase in livestock production and therefore generate greater sources of work in a sustainable way with agricultural production,” he added.
Walter Ruiz, president of Fegasacruz, referred to the agreement between the Government and the butchers, pointing out that the price range is defined by supply and demand. “Then it cannot be that we have a price band and they tell us that we must sell between now and then, but there is no set price for the intermediaries,” he observed.
