Potato producers from Merida, Tachira, Carabobo, Aragua, Trujillo and Lara support the Government's commitment to provide seeds for planting next November 27, as agreed on Sunday at an assembly held in Sanare, in the state of Lara.
"We believe Minister Berroterán, a delegation will go with him to the port to receive the seeds," said producers who belong to the board of the National Potato and Vegetable Federation (Fenaphort), in a press release.
Additionally, the producers from Lara will request General Humberto Lauren, president of Agropatria, that the state enterprise changes its spokesman, as they felt cheated by engineer Pascual DiFiori, who did not attend the meeting.
Potato producers appointed a committee, composed by two representatives per state and the board of the Federation, to accompany the Minister to the port of Puerto Cabello to remove the seeds.
"We've also asked for the delivery of fertilizers and inputs to be expedited. In addition, we need the diesel and fuel for tractors, risk management equipment and trucks to be authorized so we can transport our products, as it's been a very problematic issue for us," they added.
Potato producers have declared a national emergency because of the delay there's been in the import of seeds, the shortages of fertilizers and fungicides, and the sector's lack of security.
Source: Argenpapa