People are concerned with the high price of avocados. Yesterday, the Minister of Agriculture, Antonio Walker, spoke about the issue.
"Peruvian avocados always come in at this time, but the harvest is over 25 days behind schedule," stated the minister who added that the local production was coming to an end so there would be less supply.
He also said that the climate had driven prices up: "We had one of the driest months of May in the last 50 years," he said.
"Avocados can only be grown in very temperate climates, where there are no frosts, and have therefore been the most affected by a lack of water," he added.
Several avocado producing areas, such as La Ligua, Cabildo, and Petorca have suffered water supply issues. Minister Walker said that officials of the National Irrigation Commission would visit these communes this week.
"The first priority for the government is the water for human consumption. We have a very ambitious program of how to take care of water on the one hand and have a very good water regulation."
"Agriculture must be done in a sustainable way, taking care of the environment, and respecting people. That means producing in a sustainable way, and Chile has had a very exemplary agriculture in the last 30 years. The Ministry of Public Works is monitoring the issue, checking how water rights have been granted," he said.
Source: latercera.com