MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine farmers and officials agree after months of strife

Farmers leaders met Agriculture secretary Carlos Cheppi (R)

Argentine farmers and government representatives described their first meeting on Tuesday afternoon after months of corroding stand off and animosity as open, frank, opportune and positive, words which had been absent for months.

The four member liaison committee of the farmers' organizations that led the struggle against the Kirchner administrations over the increase in oilseeds and grains export taxes met with Agriculture secretary Carlos Cheppi in his office. During the first rather brief meeting is was agreed that camp representatives would join the Bicentennial celebrations (2010) organization which includes long term farm policies, segmentation taxing for small and medium sized farmers and an overall federal plan to support poorer provinces. Basically, what farmers had been struggling for during months and the Kirchner administration rejected arguing that re distribution of windfall earnings from soaring prices of agriculture commodities was a social priority. "We agreed to participate of the Bicentennial agenda and create a new framework to redefine long term farm policies. Obviously there are immediate priorities such as dairy and been farming and tax segmentation for small and medium sized farmers", said Carlos Garetto vice president of Coninagro, one of the farmers organizations. "It was an opportune meeting because we cautioned that there are come issues that need solving besides the sliding export taxes. It's not all over with the end of Resolution 125", said Eduardo Buzzi head of the Agrarian Federation and one of the most articulate leaders to be born out of the conflict. Agriculture Secretary Carlos Cheppi described the meeting as "frank" and promising. "We invited the camp to join the Bicentennial project, they were missing, and they said they would participate. That is very important, positive".