Help for farmers
The Ministry of Agriculture announced a new incentive and subsidy program for farmers in the Región de La Araucanía earlier today.
Minister of Agriculture, Luis Mayol, joined by Intendente Andrés Molina, introduced the proposal, called Incentives for the Revitalization of Productivity, to people in Padres las Casas earlier this week.
The program aims to subsidize part of the losses farmers suffered due to inclement weather this past summer when an intense drought affected both the quantity and quality of harvests.
The Institute of Agricultural Development (INDAP) also supports the project, which includes a subsidy of 1700 million pesos.
The allocation of funds for the initiative was made possible due to a five percent transfer from the emergency funds of the National Fund for Regional Development (FNDR) to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Because of the initiative, more than 11,000 small wheat producers in Chile will be provided with seeds and fertilizers.
In addition, about 700 million pesos will be distributed through the INDAP and the Ministry of Social Justice.
On average, 19,000 farming families will receive about 87,500 pesos each, and Mayol expressed hope that the measures would be implemented in time for the 2012 harvest season.
To mark his visit to the region, the Minister also attended the National Assembly of the Confederation of Farmer Family Agriculture, “La Voz del Campo” that united representatives from Valparaíso to Magallanes.
Mayos’ visit to the region, combined with his announcement of the subsidy initiative, fell on the celebrations of We Txipantu, the Mapuche and Indigenous New Year.
“We continue increasing, improving and strengthening the rural development of the Family Farming Initiative and by doing so, we can continue to count on governmental engagement in this critical policy of Piñera’s government,” Mayol said.
Source: Argentine Beef Packers S.A.