Midagri expects urea procurement process to be completed next week: ‘Case closed’

Minister of Agricultural Development and Irrigation, Andres Alencastreannounced that the international urea procurement process will end next week to meet the needs of small producers and guarantee the 2022-2023 agricultural campaign.

“The urea issue has already been resolved. Next week we have to complete all the procedures so that the ships can already go to Peru and can unload (fertilizers) in three coastal ports, they can be in warehouses and start distribution,” he said.

He also reaffirmed the commitment to issue a rule to provide economic incentives to producers of less than 5 hectares, which include priority crops (rice, corn, coffee and potatoes), under the so-called FERTIBONO or fertilizer bonus.

In addition, the minister announced that the sector has achieved an increase of 20,000 to 40,000 tons of guano from the island to serve the crops of small producers to ensure the production of the 2022-2023 agricultural campaign.

“We are also going to work on changing the fertilizer matrix from synthetic to organic (fertilizers) and make it part of public policy to encourage the use of organic fertilizers and fertilizers in (agricultural) production to keep it healthy,” he said. emphasized.

Just like the owner MIDAGRI selected record Register of agricultural producers for distribution of urea to producers less than 5 ha. To date, the register has already exceeded half a million registered farmers.

The first batch will be delivered to only 48,000 agricultural producers

A few weeks ago the minister Agricultural development and irrigation announced that the first batch of fertilizers purchased through the Agro Rural procurement process will only be delivered to 48,000 small growers.

In press statements, Minister Alencastre noted that it was never said that the carbamide purchased in the winning bid by Radi Oil Delivery LLC would be delivered to all producers.

“The total amount of the acquisition of 65 thousand tons of urea will be directed to 48 thousand tons. manufacturers less than five hectares and which use urea (in their crops). We never said what we would give to everyone (producers), or to all agriculture, but only to take care of the vulnerable band experienced by producers with smaller land ownership and who use this fertilizer,” he said.

The number of beneficiaries commented by the head of Midagri is less than indicated by Agro Rural’s chief executive Mario Rivero, who recently commented that the fertilizers obtained in this first process will be provided to 120,000 farmers.

Alencastre noted that the agricultural sector will encourage the use of guano from the islands and organic fertilizers as part of a strategy to combat poverty, as well as to guarantee the food security of the population.

“I believe that sufficient steps have been taken to ensure (the purchase of) quality urea in the capacity, suitability and transparency that has been achieved (in this acquisition). There are other options, such as guano from the islands and organic fertilizers. , as well as giving strength to their own production fertilizer synthetics, using resources such as phosphates, sulfates and potassium,” he commented.

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The legislator said that economic interests are behind the project, approved at the insistence of the plenary session of the parliament. Instead, MP Alex Paredes of the ruling Masters Bloc justified his group’s support for the project’s persistence despite the government’s compliance with the law.