Paraguayan onion producers affiliated to the Federación Nacional Campesina (National Farmer Federation) held a demonstration this Monday in front of the departmental headquarters of the National Service for Plant and Seed Quality and Health (Senave), demanding measures against smuggling and the suspension of the Phytosanitary Import Authorizations (Afidis) so that the supply of local productions is prioritized in the domestic market.
The producers denounced that the entry of onions from neighboring countries is having a severe impact on the sector, putting the livelihoods of hundreds of families at risk. Currently, prices at the source amount to G. 2,500 per kilo, while the real cost of production reaches around G. 4,000, which results in an unsustainable economic imbalance.
With banners and slogans, demonstrators demanded greater control at the borders to prevent the entry of large volumes of smuggled onions. Juan Ovelar, a local producer, said that production costs have increased considerably, given the high seed costs and the need for frequent treatments.
For his part, the departmental director of Senave, Antonio Escandriolo, said that the fight against smuggling is the responsibility of the National Tax Revenue Directorate (DNIT), and that Senave collaborates with traceability and registration systems for agricultural products. He also said that the issuing of Afidis depends on the decisions of the bodies responsible for protecting the national production.
Producers warned that, unless effective measures are implemented and they get some answers from the competent authorities, protests could intensify in the coming days.
Source: abc.com.py