Page Seven / La Paz
The Agricultural Chamber of the East (CAO) asks to import corn, that Emapa guarantees an unlimited supply and the use of genetically modified seeds. The Government reached agreements with poultry farmers.
According to producers, corn production began to decline in 2011, when restrictions on exports were applied, and this was accentuated in 2018. The CAO demands the release of genetically modified products used and approved in Mercosur, the immediate import of corn for supply the current scarcity, make possible the approval of the use of genetically modified seeds by the National Biosafety Committee.
He assures that Emapa must comply with the supply of corn without imposing caps. “98% of the corn produced in our country is hard yellow corn for animal consumption. The short-term outcome may be a shortage of chicken meat, eggs, milk, and pork, and food security will be affected,” the CAO warned.
Government authorities met with the National Federation of Poultry Farmers and decided to sit down at a work table on Thursday, April 21, and analyze the supply of corn and prices. “Emapa has corn and the quantities to the sector and frequency must be determined,” said the Vice Minister of Industrial Production, Luis Siles.
Winston Ortiz, from the Federation of Poultry Farmers, reported that Emapa will increase the volume of corn to the sector based on a technical study.
A dialogue table will also be formed to plan chicken production between poultry farmers and incubators and thus avoid overproduction.
