ARGENTINA: Argentine farmers say they will launch new commercial strike to protest government agricultural policies

Record ID: 338658

  • Title: ARGENTINA: Argentine farmers say they will launch new commercial strike to protest government agricultural policies
  • Date: 21st February 2009
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES PROVINCE, ARGENTINA (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF WHEAT HARVEST VARIOUS OF CORN FIELDS VARIOUS OF CATTLE
  • Embargoed: 8th March 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Industry
  • Reuters ID: LVA7G7RVQKXY4J7VBVILZO8MXDUQ
  • Story Text: Argentine farmers will launch a four-day strike beginning midday Friday to protest government agricultural policies, farm leaders said on Thursday (February 19), deepening a long-running political standoff.
    Farmers will halt sales of grains and other products ahead of talks with the government scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
    Four months of strikes against a hike on soy exports last year set off a political crisis that saw President Cristina Fernandez's popularity plunge and slowed Latin America's No.3 economy.
    Farmers have stepped up calls in recent weeks for the government to reduce taxes on agricultural exports and provide assistance after a prolonged drought.
    Mario Llambias, president of the Argentine Rural Confederations, a leading farm group, said the strike sends a message to the government.

    "We are reverting to this strike after putting off the measure of protest. Really, it's a vigil to have fruitful dialogue with the government," Llambia said.
    Last week, farmers postponed a threatened strike, saying they would seek a meeting with Fernandez to resolve the months-long standoff.
    Producers say they are being squeezed by falling commodity prices amid the global economic downturn.
    As farmers threatened to strike, Production Minister Debora Giorgi invited the leaders of Argentina's four biggest farm groups to meet on Tuesday to discuss the impact of the global economic crisis, which has depressed prices for Argentine soy, corn and wheat.
    Eduardo Bussi, head of the Argentine Agrarian Foundation, said the strike shouldn't damage talks.

    "We can argue the issue even if there is a strike going on.
    Therefore, we think it's legal and constitutional that we have three or four days of protests before going to talks with the minister after so many months of stalling and stealing," he said.
    The president reiterated that her government would not lower export taxes on soy, which is one of the farmers' key demands, saying it would affect fiscal stability.
    Local fear a repeat of last year's strikes when trucks carrying meat and vegetables into the city from the vast Pampas farmlands piled up on the highways, causing food shortages.
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