PORTUGUESA-Venezuela.- Ministry of Agriculture reached an agreement with producers and agroindustry.
Wilmar Castro Soteldo, Minister of Agriculture and Lands, signed the resolution that sets the parameters that will govern the calculation of the price of coffee, according to the quality of the product and the cost structure of production, in the different regions of the country.
After an intense two-day meeting, during which the points raised by the producers and the conditions of the agro-industry were discussed, it was also decided to create a support fund for coffee growers, provide technical assistance and verify the quality of the coffee.
Castro Soteldo welcomed the consensus reached between coffee growers and the agro-industry to guarantee the purchase and sale at a fair price. “Our producers and our coffee agro-industries must unite to counteract the chain of intermediaries in the purchase of this product.”
He stressed that the Venezuelan Coffee Corporation, together with prosecutors and producers, must commit to following up on the mechanisms agreed upon during the meeting.
Castro Soteldo explained that both the roasters and the agro-industry must guarantee coffee growers supplies of inputs, tools and technical assistance to continue guaranteeing quality coffee.
One more step
Toribio Azuaje, member of the National Union of Coffee Growers of Venezuela, UNACAFEV, said that «we have achieved an agreement on the price system for our harvest, which is summarized in the agreed prices per quintal of green coffee as follows: Arabica coffee: $160, $170 and $180; Canephora coffee: $150.» At the same time, he announced that these results are not the definitive solution to the many problems that Venezuelan coffee growing faces today, but they constitute another step forward to achieve a dignified treatment for coffee growers.
Meetings in all 20 states
The president of the Venezuelan Coffee Corporation, Colonel Alfredo Mora, indicated that the signing of the resolution to establish measures for the price of coffee is an achievement made by the producers of this sector. In this regard, he reported that in the next few days meetings will be held where the delegation will be presented to the 20 coffee-growing states of the country.
Clear conditions
Alexis Lunar, General Manager of Torrefactora Guri (Café del Sur and Café Magistral) said that “with this new resolution we must have clear conditions to fully manage everything related to permits, as well as avoid smuggling that is affecting the domestic market, and bring the issue of coffee in Venezuela to a successful conclusion.”
White smoke came out
Ana De Abreu, representative of Café Amanecer, said that they are pleased that at the beginning of this harvest they are already establishing the norms before a gazette that takes this into account: “We are adhering to the law and ultimately to the progress of the country. White smoke came out.”
Satisfied
Carlos Márquez, a coffee grower from the municipality of Ospino, in the state of Portuguesa, said that “I am truly very satisfied with this meeting, where the Minister of Agriculture signed this resolution and we hope that together with the agroindustry we will agree on prices adjusted to the needs of the coffee grower.”
Gabriel Pérez, spokesman for the high-level technical committee , predicted that all coffee growers will receive the great news because “our coffees will be within the legal framework to continue selling a good quality product and he highlighted that with this new modification more than 67 thousand coffee-growing families are favored.”
For Hildemar Escalona, a coffee grower from Lara state and member of the High Level Commission , he said that “this is a great step forward; today the long-awaited agreement was achieved, since the producer will be able to count on the necessary tools to guarantee good coffee production.
