The low price of rice motivated new protests

Ecuadornews:

The manifestation ended after a call to a meeting with President Lenin Moreno, who undertook to solve the problems of the sector. From 07:00 farmers blocked the road to Daule at the exit of the ring ‘Narcisa de Jesus’, Nobol canton, the demonstration was given by the lack of attention to the sector and the low price of rice husk. 

It is not the first time that the peasants protest in the streets. On this occasion they did not only brought their hats, machetes and posters, but also three tractors with plow with which they burst traffic on both sides of the road.

The closing lasted three hours. Gledin Dumes Rivera, farmer, asked that the agricultural sector be declared in emergency. “We are a very important sector because we sow and generate wealth and employment.” He pointed out that this measure was taken by the real and authentic farmers, who wake up and till the land every day, not by leaders with political interests. If they are not taken into account, the blockades will continue with more force, assured the peasant.

On the other hand, another farmer, Francisco Barzola, indicated that “our problem is that we do not have a marketing policy as it should be. The UNA EP (Storage Unit) has only been dedicated to making kits to give to leaders who are already questioned. ” He suggested that said entity be attached to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

“How is it possible that 40,000 tons of strategic reserves have been stored for four years?” He questioned. The rice farmers rejected the fact that the Minister of Agriculture, Rubén Flores, meets with the industrialists but not with the farmers. ” for the industrialists to be able to export, they ask that they subsidize $ 5.5 the sack of rice, when they pay $ 27 and $ 28 for the 230 pounds, “said Barzola. José Villamar Figueroa, former mayor of Nobol, also supported the strike because the price of the product “is very low”.

He explained that the UNA EP receives $ 35.5 the 200-pound bag, depending on the humidity, but the batteries receive it at $ 28. “It is much exaggerated, it cannot be sold or sown, there is loss”. To many the unemployment caught them off guard like Kendy Rivas, of Daule, who walked three kilometers approximately to the toll of Chivería to move to his work in Guayaquil.

Óscar Mendoza, who arrived from Manta, had a medical appointment with his son; He was stuck and could not reach his destination. “It’s okay to protest, but there are other ways, not this way, affecting people.”

The measure was not only taken in this place. In the sector Las Maravillas, in Daule, another group of protesters also closed the road, blocking the entrance to Guayaquil by the two main access roads. As the hours passed, the peasants requested to be heard by the Chief Executive.

“We no longer want intermediaries who make fun of us, we want to speak directly with the President of the Republic,” Dumes shouted. Tanya Varela, commander of Zone 5 of the National Police, spoke with the demonstrators to reach a possible solution. “You cannot close the roads, hinder the transit of people before a requirement that they have with or without reason; it is necessary that through the dialogue with the corresponding instances they fix it “. Varela interceded and managed with the Government of Guayas an appointment for the President of the Republic, Lenin Moreno, to receive a delegation, taking advantage of his presence in Fedenador.

The protesters accepted and opened the way at 10:45. The Head of State received them and listened to their needs, together with the Minister of Agriculture, and undertook to solve the problem.

Farmers, in addition to requesting that the sector be declared in emergency, informed the authorities that there are obstacles to access BanEcuador credits. After the dialogue, the farmers were left with positive expectations. (I)

Source: http://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/economia/4/el-precio-bajo-del-arroz-motivo-nuevas-protestas