Minister Esteban Valenzuela, head of Agriculture, ruled out that there is a food shortage in the country. Likewise, he provided details of the “Siembra por Chile” program, which seeks to reactivate the economy and combat the increase in prices of certain products. The plan has a cost of 32 billion pesos and involves aspects such as water security, soil improvement and peasant marketing, among others.
The Minister of Agriculture, Esteban Valenzuela, ruled out that there is a food shortage in the country.
The Secretary of State traveled to the region of La Araucanía, where he held meetings with various Mapuche organizations. This, in order to evaluate the actions that the Government will implement with respect to the communities in the area.
In addition, he met with farmers in the region, an area that was declared an agricultural emergency. This allows resources to be streamlined to support those most affected by the climate crisis.
In this context, he reviewed some of the most relevant aspects of the program “Sowing for Chile”which seeks to reactivate the economy and deal with the scale of food prices.
The strategy will have an investment of 32 billion pesos and includes support in water security, soil improvement and a peasant marketing program, among other aspects.
In the midst of the crisis and the high cost of fertilizers and inputs for agriculture, Valenzuela ruled out that food production has been affected.
“We have shortage problems for some products, but not shortages. The agricultural world, in its plurality, has been able to feed Chile, and we have to have that strength and give certainty”, said the minister.
Minister for rise in product prices
During the week, the head of Agriculture referred to the increase in the prices of some products such as oil. In this sense, he explained that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has had quite an influence.
“Russia, which is one of the main exporters of oil and products that are the raw material, has closed. If we add to that the global alert and the search to secure oil in various countries, it has generated, particularly in a couple of oils, almost a doubling of the price, ”he said.
Valenzuela projected that this scenario would be medium-term and that can be corrected in the next six months.
“We call for responsibility, for the pragmatism of seeking alternatives, innovations, and in the coming days we are going to publish recommendations for the effective and lower-cost use of alternatives for daily food,” he asserted.