The National Federation of Potato Producers (Fenapp), which has been affected by the climate and other factors that may have undermined the crop's development throughout the country, expressed its dissatisfaction with the arrival of Brazilian potatoes at the Central Market.
"We know there is a need for much more bilateral trade within the framework of regional integration and as a result of the creation of a common market such as Mercosur," said the Vice President of Fenapp, Mario Raiteri.
"We could understand these imports if there was a decrease in supply of potatoes that led to a disproportionate increase in the price of food for the people of Argentina, but there is no such thing going on," the leader added.
The potato sector has been going through complex situations, such as climate issues, the high cost of inputs, and dollar inflation. "In addition, we have high employer contributions, expensive freight and its powerful impact on production areas far from large urban centers," Raiteri stated.
Another persisting issue that also affects Fenapp, is the high concentration of demand in supermarkets that distort prices, to a point were consumers pay 300% to 400% more than what producers are paid for their products.
"We value the re-creation of the Buenos Aires Potato Office, the Horticultural 2020 program, and the ability to access credit from Banco Provincia, which are issues on which the sector worked with the new government. However, we still have to incorporate all the aforementioned issues into the agenda to promote the development of regional economies," said the member of Fenapp.
Regional situation
After summarizing the sector's situation, the producer spoke again about the imports of Brazilian potatoes into the domestic market and their influence in the region.
"We do not understand how this happens when the southeast is just beginning its harvest and when we're about to conduct a satellite study to assess the production per hectare, which our federation will present next month during the Potato Feast in Nicanor Otamendi," Raiteri said.
"We wonder why authorities rushed to import a product that costs twice as much as the Argentine product in the central market. Three trucks filled with Brazilian potato of the Agata variety entered through the border accesses, San Javier, Bernardo de Irigoyen (Misiones), and Paso de los Libres (Corrientes). Importers have requested 30 trucks to date," he said.
"The potato sector is vital in any strategy to end malnutrition and hunger in the country and the world. We are concerned that the sector can be used as currency to give an advantage to the industry or to service sectors in the market of the neighboring country because they have a greater lobbying capacity," Raiteri said.
Source: lacapitalmdp.com