According to estimates from the Agricultural Chamber of Cochabamba (CAC), the gross value of this year's production can decrease by 30 to 35% because of the drought, hailstorms, and frost that occurred in recent months in the department of Cochabamba. The peasant sector estimated there would be a 40% decrease in production.
The eight productive sectors of the department generate approximately 723.47 million dollars per year and, according to Fernando Quiroga, the General Counsel of the CAC, agricultural losses could amount to more than 253 million dollars this year.
According to Quiroga, the drought had afflicted the agricultural sector the most.
Ruben Herbas, who, until recently, was the Secretary of Education of the Federation of Peasant Workers of Cochabamba (FSUTCC), said the situation in the field was very complicated. He said the lack of rain and the frost had strongly affected the Southern Cone and Andean region, especially the potato crops. "The frost kills the crop in one night, as it did with potato crops. Meanwhile, the drought slowly kills the crops. It's something that has affected vegetable producers," he said.
Herbas said that President Evo Morales was determined to support producers of potato by delivering the seeds in a timely manner. Each provincial executive must present a list of the early potato producing areas, so the producers can receive their seeds in a timely manner so as to alleviate the shortage.
Source: laprensa.com.bo