Buenos Aires legislators admit little progress on farmers' demands

In the Buenos Aires province, legislators have acknowledged a significant lack of progress on projects aimed at addressing the pressing demands of the agricultural sector. Farmers continue to voice concerns regarding tax burdens, the poor state of rural roads, the regulation of phytosanitary products, and rising insecurity. However, parliamentary activity on these fronts has been minimal.

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The reality is that the commissions started very late, so we haven't been able to work yet. There are no projects that benefit the agricultural sector.

Analía Corvino, president of the Agrarian Affairs Commission in the Chamber of Deputies, and Gonzalo Cabezas, vice president of the equivalent commission in the Senate, both from the La Libertad Avanza party, described the legislative work as "scarce." They admitted that no substantial projects are currently underway to alleviate the situation for farmers. Both lawmakers stated their intention to prioritize these agricultural agendas in the latter half of the year.

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There are many congratulations, many declarations of interest, and few projects. And the few projects that exist are about regulation, in other words, about suffocating the agricultural sector more.

Corvino attributed the delays partly to the late establishment of legislative commissions, which has hampered work throughout much of the year. She noted that concerns reaching the deputies primarily involve phytosanitary issues and gross income taxes. "The reality is that the commissions started very late, so we haven't been able to work yet. There are no projects that benefit the agricultural sector," she stated. Corvino added that much of the legislative activity has consisted of "declarations of interest and congratulations," rather than substantive initiatives for the sector.

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The provincial chambers are paralyzed, basically.

Legislators expressed concern that existing projects often focus on regulation, which could further burden farmers. "There are many congratulations, many declarations of interest, and few projects. And the few projects that exist are about regulation, in other words, about suffocating the agricultural sector more," Corvino said. She highlighted the need to carefully study any new regulations, such as those concerning drones, to ensure they do not impose additional costs on producers. Cabezas echoed these sentiments, describing the provincial chambers as "paralyzed" and noting that their minority status makes advancing projects difficult, despite ongoing meetings with agricultural organizations.

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It is good that drones are regulated and that there is a registry, but we must analyze how it is implemented so that it does not end up generating a new burden for the producer.