Even though the cherry harvest is still two months away, entrepreneurs are worried because there is no labour available. According to producers, they have been unable to get workers to perform cultivation work. Not performing this task would make it very difficult to obtain a good product.
Large producers are affected the most by this problem so they have requested meetings with mayors and the Ministry of Labour to find a solution.
They are searching for workers through Argentina's Union of Rural Workers (Uatre), in the municipalities, and they have even communicated with religious pastors so that they let their congregations know they are looking for labour.
"We had to bring people from General Roca. The situation is nerve-racking. We won't be able to harvest the crops if we can't find workers," the producers from Neuquen stated. They also stated that salaries started from 8,000 pesos and that, if the harvest was good, the workers could make up to 13,000 pesos.
One of the largest establishments in the province is Vista Alegre SRL. The company has 200 hectares in production and needs 40 people to prune, clean, and do other things. However, they haven't even been able to hire 10 people.
"Unfortunately, these projects fail, not because we do not have markets or because the product isn't profitable, but because we do not have the labour, which is a key resource," stated Carlos Enriquez, the manager of Vista Alegre SRL.
The harvest takes place in mid-November, and it is very intensive and requires a lot of labour in a short time. Producer Luis Franzan said the harvest only lasted one month. "We have to harvest a hectare in two days and it can yield 12,000 kilos. It takes at least 50 people to do this," he said.
Meanwhile, the Undersecretary of Labour of the Province, Ernesto Seguel, said they would have discussions with the Uatre and with the municipalities.
Source: rionegro.com.ar