MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Time is running out” warn impatient Argentine farmers

Llambias: "Cow expert, get us the hell out of this quicksand!"

Under the banner of “time is running out” Argentine farm leaders gathered in a rally to call for action from President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner administration or they will be forced to resume the protests that they staged for four months until mid-July and that forced the government to roll back higher grain export duties.

"Cow expert, get us the hell out of this quicksand!' said the president of the Argentine Rural Confederation (CRA) Mario Llambías during the weekend rural assembly in Olavarría, heartland of the rich Buenos Aires province. In July after the humiliating defeat in the Senate that rejected the higher grain export levies Mrs. Kirchner said: "Over all these days I have become a cow expert. I can teach you cow, wheat and soy lessons". Eduardo Buzzi, president of the Argentine Agrarian Federation warned that "the farm problem remains unsolved", in spite of the roll back of export levies, and called on Mrs. Kirchner for a "time of consensus" when decisions are not imposed but rather discussed previously. Last August 5 the Argentine government and the four main farmers' organisations resumed talks but so far results are very limited and international prices of commodities have been falling which makes the export tax burdensome plus the fact that costs have been soaring. "Agriculture minister Carlos Cheppi is technically very solid, who knows camp, knows about production and costs", said Buzzi who nevertheless pointed out that they have yet to meet the cabinet chief, as was originally promised by the government. Buzzi said that so far they have not received "replies" from the government to solve the serious difficulties faced by cattle breeders, dairy farmers and wheat growers. "If we can't advance on the consensus initiative you can be sure that we're not going to dynamite the bridge,--as we suspect the government would like to see as do it--, but we will go again to Congress, and as many times as needed to put our case forward and obtain the proper answers", underlined Buzzi. The Kirchners administrations have a policy of grain and oilseed export taxes to reap on windfall international prices and allegedly ensure "food prices affordable to the average Argentine consumer" and wealth redistribution. But budget numbers show that these taxes represent a significant percentage of Treasury revenue and with growing outlays more income is needed. Export taxes and the ongoing conflict situation with farmers are also making Argentina, a main player in world grain, beef, oilseed and dairy products trade, a non reliable supplier.