The National Peruvian Agricultural Convention (Conveagro) An indefinite national agrarian strike began on Monday, May 25 that paralyzed road corridors in regions such as Piura, Lambayeque, Arequipa, Fist and Saint Martin as a result of unmet demands by the Executive, as indicated by workers in the sector.
Nearly 20,000 rice, banana and sugarcane producers blocked sections of the Panamericana Norte and strategic routes of the country as part of its measure of force and its demands for the fall in the price of rice in the market, fair prices, reduction in the cost of inputs and the declaration of emergency in the agricultural sector, after two consecutive years of falling prices without the Executive having provided solutions to the critical situation of these workers.
In the face of pressure, Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM) called the governors of the most affected regions and representatives of rice unions to a high-level meeting for Wednesday, May 27 in Lima.
Faced with the agrarian strike, the Government announces the purchase of S/ 100 million of rice from the national sector
The Executive will make the measures official through an emergency decree in force until December, which includes support for small producers, maintenance of irrigation canals and actions against rising costs in agriculture; However, the rice farmers have not yet lifted the protest measures and are waiting for the commitments made by the Government to be fulfilled.
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The Government announced a series of measures to address the crisis that rice producers are going through and prevent the radicalization of agrarian protests in different regions of the country. Among the main actions is the purchase of national rice for S/ 100 million, as well as the allocation of others S/ 50 million for clearing and maintenance of irrigation canals.
Meeting continues at the PCM without agreement to lift the agricultural strike
Only four of the six regional governors summoned by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM) appeared this Wednesday at the high-level meeting called to address the national agricultural strike: Jorge Luis Pérez Flores of Lambayeque, Antonio Leonidas Pulgar Lucas of Huanuco, Luis Ernesto Neyra León of Piura and Avelina Palacios of Tumbes. The meeting, set for 4:00 pm in Lima, was also attended by a single representative of the rice unions.
The governor of Tumbes, Avelina Palaciospointed out that the regional authorities assisted as mediators before the central government to convey the producers’ demands. Among the points raised at the meeting are the review of free trade agreements, tariffs on imported rice, the price paid to the producer, the increase in inputs and the informal entry of rice across the borders.
The impact of the national agricultural strike began to be felt strongly in the markets and transport terminals in the north of the country. In Tumbesmerchants and consumers reported a immediate increase in prices of basic productswhile dozens of passengers remain stranded due to the road blockade that connects the region with Piura.
Ucayali rice farmers maintain blockades on the Federico Basadre highway
On the third day of national agricultural strikerice producers in the region Ucayali they keep the Federico Basadre highway at kilometer 31, access road to Pucallpa and gateway to eastern Peru. From that point, the protesters gave temporary way to vehicles that remained stranded for hours, with the help of harvesters and forestry tractors. The farmers concentrate their demands on two points: the declaration of emergency for rice cultivation and the reversal of the tariff reduction that, in their opinion, makes imports cheaper and hits the national producer.
One of the farmers stationed at the blockade also pointed out against the Congressional Agrarian Commissionwhose president is Congresswoman Jeny Lopez Moralesfrom the bench Popular Force. The producer questioned a fortified rice law approved in that legislative body, arguing that the field farmer does not have the technology or the means to produce that type of grain.
Agrarian strike does not subside until the Government publishes the decree
Macario Silvapresident of the Board of Users of Middle and Lower Piurawarned this Wednesday that the national agricultural strike will remain in force until the Executive publishes and signs the emergency decree announced to address the crisis in the sector. The leader pointed out that the decision to lift or maintain the protest measure will fall to the farmers themselves, once they evaluate the content of the rule. “At the moment, the strike is still in force. As long as we do not have the decree already published and signed by the President of the Republic and we evaluate it in terms of how it benefits agriculture, it will be the decision of the users and farmers,” Silva stated.
The leader acknowledged that the presence of officials of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM) in the area represents progress, although he ruled out that the Council of Ministers’ announcement alone would be enough to suspend the blockades. “I think it will surely be favorable, it will not be favorable, we have to analyze it”held. The agricultural unions remain in assembly awaiting the official pronouncement, scheduled for 4:00 pm this Wednesday, after which they will evaluate whether the Executive’s proposal responds to their demands for fair prices for rice and reduction in the cost of inputs.
Farmers block the only bridge that connects Tumbes and Piura
Producers from the towns of Amotape, Vichayal and Miramar they took control of Simon Rodriguez Bridge —the only road access that remained open between Tumbes and Piura— within the framework of the national agricultural strike convened by the National Convention of Peruvian Agriculture (Conveagro) on May 25. The blockade aggravates the isolation between both regions in the north of the country, where protesters demand concrete measures from the Government in the face of the sustained fall in the price of rice and the rise of inputs such as urea and sulfate.
One of the farmers present on the bridge pointed out that the protesters are awaiting a response from the Executive, which until now has not presented a proposal that addresses the sector’s claims. The strike, which entered its third day this Wednesday, May 27, affects 13 road points in nine regions of the country, with more than 14,000 farmers mobilized only in Piura, according to data from the Superintendence of Land Transportation (Sutran).
The rice producers of Piura They toughened their protest this Wednesday and announced that they will not send representatives to the meeting called by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM) this afternoon. “They are not going to attend. There is no delegation,” said the farmer. José Pingo Bayona.
Head of the ONPE affirms that the agrarian strike is a risk for the transfer of electoral material
Bernardo Pachas called on the Government of José María Balcázar to resolve the situation of blockades in regions at the national level
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The acting head of the ONPE, Bernardo Pachas He maintained that the electoral material for the second round on June 7 will reach all locations before 00:00 on Sundaybut stated that the blockades on the roads during the protests over the agricultural strike put travel by road at risk.
Ombudsman supervises care for injured during protests
In an official statement, the Ombudsman’s Office He stated that he continues to supervise the development of the mobilizations and protest actions that have been taking place in the Piura region. “Until yesterday, blockades remained in place in six sections of the Sullana – Tambogrande, Sullana – Talara, Piura – Sechura, Piura – Huancabamba, Piura – Chiclayo and Amotape – Ignacio Escudero routes, in Paita.”
In addition, the institution assured that there were cases of injured people as a result of clashes between protesters and agents of the National Police, so a team from the Ombudsman’s Office remains close to the hamlet of San Antonio, in the Cura Mori district, to verify adequate and timely care for the injured.
Piura farmers maintain pickets
On the third day of protests, protesters from the Piura region continue to block the roads and maintain that “we hope that the Government prioritizes and provides a solution to this problem, because we see that the production costs are higher than the sales price. The machinery is expensive. The water rate is expensive. Fertilizers too,” as he told Successful one of the protesters identified as Pedro Pablo Benitez.
