Argentina's Deputy Minister of Agro-Industry, Ricardo Negri announced measures that will benefit the fruit sector. He said that "the elimination of export duties and having a single exchange rate, and not seven like we had until a few months ago, will make this activity a little more profitable, and the combination of these measures will have an impact of around 900 million pesos for the region."
Negri said that "in January, the government also decided to mitigate freight costs by amending Resolution No. 1108, which represents a decrease of 90,000,000 pesos in costs for pears and apples."
The national official also said that "in the future, when we achieve exporting what we want, we will have an increase in income from the reimbursement to the activity of nearly 500,000,000 pesos, which will also benefit the whole fruit chain in the region."
Governor Alberto Weretilneck accompanied Ricardo Negri as he announced a number of measures to accompany the fruit sector.
Weretilneck said: "The Provincial Government supports the series of measures taken by the Nation. They won't be a definite solution to the sector's problems but they represent an important aid to the industry."
He stated that "the measures include the elimination of export duties and having a single exchange rate. The Government will also make available a loan of 1,200,000,000 pesos, half of which comes from the National banks and the other half from the Patagonia Bank, for companies and producers who are banking, and a revolving fund of 200,000 000 pesos, 150,000,000 of which come from the National bank and 50,000,000 from Rio Negro, which will be destined for small and medium producers and small packing plants through the Rio Negro Trust. "
He also noted that "the other aspect is to streamline as much as possible the assistance and support aimed at farmers affected by hail. We will make our best effort so that the producers that were affected by the hail get aid through the National Emergency Act."
Weretilneck said that "we are working with the National Government and Neuquen to give some assistance to the regional orchards and to create some measures to make the situation, which has become worse in recent years, more bearable. Fruit crops are a central issue for Rio Negro and Neuquén, and that's why we support the measures announced by the national authorities, even though we know there is no measure that can fully meet the expectations of the fruit sector."
Finally Governor Weretilneck stressed "the permanent disposition is that the Government has had to help the fruit sector through this difficult situation."
Source: adnrionegro.com.ar