MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Drought imperils Argentine farming

One of the worst droughts in recent Argentine history has extended to ten of the country's provinces devastating crops and killing thousands of cattle short of water and pastures.

"The situation has become unsustainable", reads an official release from the Argentine Agrarian Federation which states that in Mendoza, next to Chile, so far this year rainfall has been 70 millimetres, "the worst drought in the last forty years".

Besides Mendoza, the lack of rain is imperilling Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, La Pampa, Entre Ríos, Corrientes, Salta, Córdoba, Formosa and Chaco.

The Confederation of Rural Associations from the provinces of Buenos Aires and La Pampa, Carpab, said that so far 19,000 head of cattle are reported dead and wheat losses (300,000 tons) estimated in 240 million US dollars. Besides planting for the coming summer crops, soybeans, sunflower and corn is already several weeks behind schedule.

The area most affected by the lack of sufficient rain is the breadbasket of Argentina and one of the world's main grain producing areas.

"In several areas rainfall records are at their lowest since 1929", indicated Carpab.

The president of the Argentine Rural Society Luciano Miguens has appealed to the government for aid.

"There are two ways to help, declaring climatic disaster areas which postpones payment of taxes and direct aid from contingency funds in the national budget", said Mr. Miguens who underlined the Camp's dynamism in helping Argentina recover from one of its worst financial crisis ever.

Although so far there's no national coordination of relief efforts, INTA, the Technological Agriculture Institute has established a web of solidarity information regarding availability of pastures, fodder and grain to feed cattle in the areas worst hit.