threatened culture 
AGRO Low prices of cereals and debts to the banking sector threaten profitability
risk
Harvest Maize and rice begins to emerge field, but imports continue
Katie Hernandez
khernandez@el-nacional.com
Acarigua The government ordered the massive purchase of rice and corn. Boats arrive in the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Ecuador and Guyana, because the strategy is "to prevent election tampering in full," they argue in the Ministry of Food.
The consequences of this policy of "open ports" is paid by local farmers, which at harvest are alarmed that have not yet set prices to cover production costs, and to cancel debts. Furthermore, they fear running out of quota in silos and warehouses, and the reception is delayed because the industries are full of imported product.
The report indicates ports who have entered 723,987 tons of yellow maize between January and July, and 300,000 tons of white corn.
In August, the office of Puerto Cabello received 185,000 tonnes of white maize and 200,000 yellow. In the case of rice imports are estimated to reach 400,000 tonnes of paddy this year.
foreign purchases are carried out directly by the Government through CASA, Supply Corporation and Agricultural Services. This company is responsible for dispatching the public and private agribusiness in accordance with the inventory has been the Superintendent of Silos.
The Executive sells imported paddy rice at a subsidized price, while white corn is quoted at the official price of 920 Bolivars per tonne.
Payment terms are on average 30 days, but sometimes have been required to cancel a week of receiving the raw material. Men
corn. In Portuguese, the country's main state grain have been on the alarms. Weekly trucks entering the item downloaded from Puerto Cabello, La Guaira and even gloves. Few companies have committed to receive the national cereal.
producers do not understand why the Minister of Agriculture Caracas, Juan Carlos Loyo, not talk about grain prices, as discussed in March production costs and the then deputy, Richard Canan, said they were ready to approve them. Adam
Antonio Guanipa is 65 years old and has spent most of his life to produce on their plot of 50 hectares. Corn harvest in the winter season and sunflower in summer. Says that this year planted the hope that the Government approve a time the price increase to offset the losses generated in 2009 by severe drought.
"work, produce and gain nothing. The road is in bad shape. I tell the Government that we produce and live this, we increase prices because fertilizers are worth much silver, and the corn is worthless and you're going to buy a meal and get it into 4 bowls,
argues that it is unfair that they are importing starts just when the maize crop. "The Government when it began said here was to produce everything, but now they're bringing it all from other countries, that's not fair, because if I do not produce much not win. When good price one would like to work, "he adds. Narváez José Carmelo
considers that the 40 acres that produce are at risk if performance does not guarantee a harvest. "We work with nails because you can not otherwise. Each day the inputs are more expensive, if not will cover costs and debt continue to be difficult to replant, "he adds.
David Perez, also a farmer, said that in this sector there are good years and some bad. Produces an average of 3,300 kilos per hectare and believes that without a sustainable price is impossible to invest and expand production capacity. "State policies are necessary to improve roads, irrigation systems and to ensure the marketing of the item," he says.
Portuguesa state producers are asked to run the dredging of the pilot channel, through which the river Acarigua, because the water level is about to overflow from sedimentation, and danger of hectares of maize are in the banks.
The lack of profitability in the sector has reduced production capacity because farmers do not have enough money to buy equipment, ensure the purchase of spare parts and introducing technology culture.
"We are investing approximately 4,050 Bolivars per hectare in 1600 spent Bs input per hectare, including seeds, fertilizers and agrochemicals. Fertilization in the average is 700 Bs, which adds to the cost of harvest labor, among others. So with the current price of corn, in the Official Gazette of 920 Bolivars per tonne There is no cost to the industry, "Perez argues.
notes that with the incorporation of new technology and better prices can increase production.
great game. In the case of rice farmers, the harvest takes weeks and say that this year's planted acres were down 46% due to lack of stimulation.
Luis Gustavo Salazar, a farmer aged 76 and 50 in the activity, Turen, says it is untenable to maintain the price freeze. "There are a number of problems, firstly the weather sometimes does not help, also the yield fell too. Are being harvested 3,000 kilos per hectare, spare parts are very expensive, "he argues.
Salazar, who owns 55 hectares of rice, of which 12 will begin to harvest in 2 weeks, reports that without a fair price can not cover costs and credits. "Last year I did not perform as expected, by the drought, but this year I encourage planting do not have a right price."
Moses Rios, municipality Cojedes Anzoátegui State which borders Portugal, said that this year the seeds and inputs provided by the government arrived late. "We had a precarious situation because few were those who received funding in time. It had to a particular plant because it gave more inputs and many farmers had to buy in the private business houses. The situation is serious and rice prices remain the same as the last harvest, but the seed, agrochemicals and machinery rises. You check the numbers and accounts are not, "said Rios. Explains
working about six months between the stage of soil preparation, planting and harvesting, and the pay is low. "When we see the gains are small. In those six months and one has eaten the money and unpaid loans. We in the fight and hope it gets better. "
Moses Rios argues that the area is PDVSA Agrícola the planting program, but projects do not end up starting and there are many producers were waiting off work this year. Eduardo
Cassani, who has 130 hectares in the municipality Paez, San Jose del sector irrigation system The Majaguas, Portuguesa state, says the sector is in crisis due to the high cost of seeds and fertilizers, the wage increase , devaluation and the elimination of subsidies. "Instead of creating incentives for domestic rice production, we see a wrong state policy that is dedicated to import," he says.
Stresses the need to respect the producer of field, regardless of the size of the property to develop and socioeconomic status. "We need to approve a price increase based on cost analysis have been discussed since May."
Official Gazette states that a ton of rice is regulated by 1,200 Bs, but this amount does not cover the rising costs of production in more than 80%.
Chavez Charter
producers expect prices
discuss
In the letter sent last week and farmers Fedeagro President Hugo Chavez, suggested that because production costs have increased by over 80% and farmers in arrears with the bank, should be increased prices of major products regulated as corn, rice, sorghum, coffee and sugar cane.
The letter requests that a tonne of paddy is fixed at 1,700 bolivars, the white corn at 1,600 Bs and Bs 1,480 yellow. While coffee notes that the backlog should be recognized that the cultivation and approve an increase to reach the 1,250 Bolivars per quintal of type C.
So far the guild has received no response. The weekend of Agriculture and Lands Minister, Juan Carlos Loyo, said he was willing to meet with agricultural producers to set prices they will receive for the current crop of cereals and other regulated items. "We are prepared to give that discussion." But did not talk except to those who in their opinion are playing politics.
