Óscar Mario Justiniano: “The land seizure is disastrous for the productive sector”

_How would you rate the performance of the agricultural sector in 2022?
Quite complex given that there are sectors that have had achievements, results or good projections and others were affected by inclement weather -frost and drought-, roadblocks, encroachments, etc. The beef, oilseed, sugar and alcohol markets have had a very good year, either due to production or competitiveness in international markets, although they have been seriously affected by encroachments, blockades, border closures, among other issues.
Pig and poultry producers achieved a productive increase; however, the closure of markets, and the lack of free circulation, the increase in prices of raw materials, made it impossible for productive growth to be accompanied by economic development. Producers of corn, wheat, cotton, vegetables, and fruits have been greatly affected by climate change, roadblocks, smuggling, and the lack of openness to the use of biotechnology, among other variables.

_Is the sector walking the path of economic recovery or what factors prevent it?
To achieve a true economic reactivation of the sector, in general, stability, legal certainty, access to biotechnology and market opening are mainly needed. Without these chained factors, it is a very complex scenario for any productive sector of Santa Cruz and the country.

_How did the lack of relations or rapprochement with the Government affect the productive apparatus of Santa Cruz?
In this last stage, from September onwards, we have achieved an opening for dialogue with the Government and its different ministries. We have pending issues on the agenda, some in development, others to be discussed. What we were able to demonstrate is that the only way out or growth is working together, producers need the Government to work on issues such as legal certainty, subjugation, smuggling, exports, and the Government needs the productive sector to guarantee the country’s food security. Separately or confronted, growth as a country is not achieved.

_What is the impact of the legal insecurity of the land -taking land- on the activities of the agricultural sector?
The illegal seizure of land is disastrous for the productive sector, as is judicial inaction. Within hours, a criminal takes a property, threatens the people who work there and destroys what he finds in his path, and justice can take years to return to the producer what is his due after so much sacrifice.
It is an issue that must be eradicated. Criminals must go to jail, the law must be applied with a firm hand and all responsible authorities act as indicated and mandated by the Political Constitution of our country.

_How many agricultural properties were taken this year and what were the consequences for the production and economy of the owners who were victims?
There is no clear record of the number of subjugated properties, in the Agricultural Chamber of the East (CAO) only those who denounce in the institutions and require support and legal advice are attended. In 2022 we have received eight new cases, which are not all of the illegal situations. The problem is that a subjugated property ceases to be productive, animals and crops are lost, sowing is stopped, machinery is destroyed or stolen, the owners are intimidated, threatened, extorted. The economic losses are very great.

_Do you believe that behind the crime of encroachment on productive land in Santa Cruz is the business of land trafficking camouflaged or what do you consider to be the reasons?
In many cases this is undeniable. The discourse that they are small peasants in search of land is used; however, when entering properties, they destroy, deforest, parcel up land, sell and leave the place. We have been able to verify many subjugated properties, which were productive, after the passage of these criminals they have been totally destroyed and without any trace of production.

_What policies or actions should the Government assume to punish and make respect for the right of ownership of titled properties prevail?
Respect the law, what is established in the Political Constitution of the State and jail those who fail to comply, both criminals and justice administrators and officials and institutions in charge of respecting and enforcing the rules and laws.

_Another year has passed with a balance of stagnation in production and the clamor of Santa Cruz producers for access to agrobiotechnology, what flavor does this indifference on the part of the Government leave you on this issue that you, on repeated occasions, insinuated is vital for the country?
It is certainly a pending issue. On many occasions we have been able to expose the situation, show the needs and demonstrate the loss of opportunities on a global scale, and although there is progress in a new soybean event, it does not fully meet the expectations of the sector, since to improve productivity it needs the incorporation of new events that are designed to better resist drought, attacks by recurring pests and that, in the end, have better productive performance. In the case of hard yellow corn -used for livestock feed (chickens, pigs, dairy cattle and fattening cattle-, the advance is nil.
The regulations on which the evaluation of the events is made must be updated, since it dates back more than two decades and is obsolete, it generates disadvantages, even more so when we compare it with the neighboring countries of the region with which we compete in the international markets.

_What opportunities is Bolivia missing by not allowing progress towards the use of new biotechnological events?
The use of genetically modified events allows to produce more, in the same cultivated space, at a lower cost and with less use of products that affect the environment. With biotechnology we can achieve competitiveness with the countries of the region, avoiding import dependency, reducing the high costs of internal production and avoiding disincentives for producers.

_Are you talking about a productive agenda for the economic development of the sector and the country, what issues should be included to achieve that purpose?
It is necessary to address the proposed issues, show progress and results. 100% of the agenda items must be considered, since they are transversal to the different productive sectors. It is imperative to execute the topics on the agenda.
Developing the established agenda will give us the viability of moving forward with other important and more specific issues for each productive sector.
National production must be strategic for the economy, the generation of decent and formal sources of employment, as well as for the development of the country’s potential, which is why we speak of State policies that transcend efforts by the different levels of government and are aimed at empowering small, medium and large producers.

_What projects are coming up for 2023?
It is very difficult to mention a specific project given the variety of sectors that make up the CAO, what I am convinced is that the entire productive sector will continue to bet on economic growth, integral development and producing food for all Bolivians and the inhabitants of the country .