MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine farmers and government agree to continue talks

Eduardo Buzzi, leader from the Argentine Agrarian Federation

The first meeting in months between protesting farmers and Argentine government representatives ended three hours later with some advances and probably most importantly a positive attitude in spite of some previous skirmishes.

"It was a beginning; we're not satisfied but what is important is that we are looking ahead and not backwards", said the president of the Argentine Rural Society, Hugo Biolcati following the Tuesday round. Eduardo Buzzi, from the Argentine Agrarian Federation (small farmers) and probably the most combative of the four members of the farmers' liaison committee said "it's a start; there were advances in diary and beef. We talked to delegates who came willing to work, no doves or hawks. We are still very far from our expectations but we can say we're at point 4 out of 10". Production minister Deborah Girogi; Interior Minister Florencio Randazzo and Agriculture Secretary Carlos Cheppi sat for the government while farmers turned up with their four representatives. During a press conference following the meeting, Ms Giorgi ratified President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner position that the controversial export taxes on soybeans, sunflower, wheat and corn remain at their current level. "We're well aware of the camp's problems and will continue to work to sustain those economies and farmers", promised Ms Girogi. But Interior minister Randazzo said farmers should act less as political leaders, "our purpose has been and is to increase production, we are committed to larger crops, but the situation is difficult and we should all work to ensure activity and jobs". Some of the measures agreed on are changes to the compensation system for wheat growers (depending on size of cultivated land); elimination of dairy export taxes if domestic market is well supplies and a subsidy to dairy farmers who produce less than 3.000 litres per day and raise calves. Biolcati praised Minister Randazzo saying he had "a very conciliatory position". However the days leading to this first meeting were full of confrontation. From Olivos Mrs. Kirchner claimed that farmers protest but also "have the sufficient margin to retain crops from the market". Apparently 9 million tons of soybeans are still in the farms unsold, allegedly waiting for a drop in export taxes. "Only those who make great profits can afford not to sell their production", she insisted.