Page Seven / La Paz
While in Santa Cruz three sectors are in emergency due to lack of corn, the Government assured that Emapa guarantees the supply for small and medium producers and poultry farmers, but warned that large businessmen must find a way to cover their demand.
The Minister of Rural Development, Remmy Gonzales, pointed out that only a group associated with poultry farmers did not have the foresight to stock up on corn and did not meet the requirements to access Emapa’s offer. “But Emapa is gathering and will supply, we have stored corn and we are going to sell and it will be guaranteed to small and medium producers, but the large ones must see where to cover their demand,” he specified.
He clarified that the Government will not subsidize corn to large businessmen, who can import the grain, as long as it is not transgenic.
Gonzales acknowledged that when there is an oversupply of chicken, prices fall and that is why the Government agrees to plan.
“You have to plan to avoid overproduction, but it is the large companies that have profited from this production. I think they should stop producing a little and earn less, but it will not be allowed to be to the detriment of small and medium-sized producers”, he pointed out.
The Association of Poultry Farmers of Santa Cruz (ADA), the Departmental Federation of Milk Producers (Fedeple) and the Departmental Association of Pig Farmers of Santa Cruz (Adepor) asked the Government to take urgent measures for the supply of corn.
This through the importation of this input and improving the administrative processes of Emapa, in a way that allows effective support to all livestock producers without discrimination of category, size or nationality.
EMAPA provision
- Offer Official data shows that Emapa currently has 15,000 tons of corn in silos and 104,000 tons in the stockpiling process. In Santa Cruz they affirm that these volumes are insufficient to satisfy the needs of livestock producers, whose demand for corn is close to 72,500 tons per month. Since February, the state company only sells up to 30 tons per producer, which is only for small and medium-sized poultry farmers, something that is not fully met either, they indicated.
