Marco Belmonte / Page Seven Digital
The Food Production Support Company (Emapa) guarantees a supply of 100,000 tons of corn to meet the demand of the livestock sector and announces that this year it will plant the grain in the north of La Paz.
“Emapa plans some 100,000 tons of corn to distribute to livestock producers in the poultry, pig, and beef sectors. As Emapa, we distribute wheat, corn and rice and now quinoa at the instruction of President Luis Arce”, said the manager of the state company, Franklin Flores, in statements to Bolivia TV.
In this context, he announced that Emapa will seek to guarantee corn to all sectors and this Monday will hold a meeting with poultry, pig and beef producers.
He recalled that the objective of the state food company is to ensure food security and sovereignty since it regulates prices, avoids speculation and concealment. This with the protection of food reserves in six collection centers or silos.
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Last year, primary producers were supported with seeds, fertilizers and inputs so that they can produce larger volumes of corn and sell the grain to the company.
According to Flores, 23,735 hectares were financed and support was provided to 1,256 producers so that they can produce corn.
As an incentive, Emapa buys the product from medium and small producers with an increase of 15% over the commercial cost.
“In addition, this year, Emapa will have its own corn production. The company, in accordance with the regulations, only collects, produces the strategic reserve of 20 to 30% of the total food production, but this year, in the winter season, we are going to have our own production, we are going to plant corn and wheat for have greater reserves”, he remarked.
Flores announced that this year 1,600 tons of corn will be harvested in San Buenaventura, Ixiamas, Apolo and Palos Blancos.
