MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine farmers respond to Church and ombudsman calls

Argentina's farmers announced Friday the end of their third strike in three months at the request of the Catholic Church, as of next Monday, but warned they'd continue on “alert” until the government repeals new export taxes on grains and oilseeds.

The strike, during which farmers suspended grain exports and controlled major highways, will be lifted at midnight on Sunday, although farmers will continue roadside protests where they "consider it necessary" Argentina's four largest farm groups said in a release following a several hours meeting. Argentina's Catholic Bishops' Conference this week asked farmers to abandon their strike in a "gesture of magnanimity" to preserve social peace. They also asked President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner to convene talks with farmers over the disputed export tax hike. Farmers also announced that next Monday afternoon following on a call from Argentina's ombudsman, they will be going to a "dialogue table" with government representatives, which have also been convened to participate. So far farmers have held three separate strikes since Mrs. Kirchner decreed an increase in grain export taxes on March 11. The longest strike was in March, when they suspended shipment of farm products for 21 days, causing scattered food shortages. Farmers claim the Kirchner administration is not interested in reaching an agreement. But in a further complication cargo truckers' associations, whose members have been idled by the strike, warned Friday that food shortages could resurface by Monday if roadblocks aren't lifted. Hundreds of truckers called for an end to the conflict by themselves blocking roads in the provinces of Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Cordoba and Entre Rios, where most farming is centered. Truckers' blockades have virtually stopped all farm produce traffic and the most perishable of items, milk has had to be dumped at roadsides. Mrs. Kirchner's administration has repeatedly refused to repeal the new taxes as farmers have asked, arguing that, by taxing farm exports within Argentina, the levies keep local food prices low for Argentine consumers. Besides windfall earnings from commodities must be "redistributed among the Argentine people". Last March the export levies on grains and oilseeds were hiked from an average 27% to 42%. Farmers have said privately that they are willing to live with a maximum of 35%, but need some good will signal and reciprocity from the government. But the Kirchner administration feels farmers are "greedy" and "conspirators" and is allegedly intent on having "the camp on their knees", before any talks can begin.