Shrimp farmers have had to incur more expenses in a year in which their income has been reduced, due to the fall in prices abroad.
Shrimp farmers have had to incur more expenses in a year in which their income has been reduced, due to the fall in prices abroad.
The National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA) denounces that shrimp farmers have had to incur greater expenses to protect themselves from the insecurity that Ecuador is experiencing so far in 2023.
In a statement issued on September 27, 2023, the union said that the costs of armed guards and monitoring technology in the face of insecurity cost shrimp farmers at least USD 100 million.
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Furthermore, according to the Chamber, the security crisis has left around 50 victims and two people dead in the shrimp sector until September 2023.
The union also regretted that the shrimp sector has to incur higher security expenses in a year in which there is a contraction of almost 5% in its income.
Which is equivalent to a loss of USD 230 million in the first half of 2023.
Although shrimp farmers have exported 15% more in volume, the fall in prices in the international market has reduced their income.
Given this scenario, the CNA has proposed to the Government that it allows security companies that provide services in shrimp farms to carry special weapons.
The union has also asked that double tax deductibility be allowed when it comes to security expenses.
However, the Government of Guillermo Lasso has not responded to these requests.
According to the Chamber, another factor that harms the business is that the diesel subsidy for the shrimp sector was eliminated. Hence, there are shrimp farmers who have had to go into more debt and others refinance loans, because they have less liquidity.
