El Niño sounds alarms in Buenos Aires province, demanding urgent action

The province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, is bracing for a potentially strong El Niño event in the coming months, which forecasts predict will bring excessive rainfall. Amidst this forecast and the looming start of a new agricultural season, farmers are growing increasingly worried about recurring problems: the neglected state of rural roads and the slow pace of hydraulic projects.

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A new sowing, a new campaign is coming and El Niño is also appearing. On Carbap's agenda, we are emphasizing the issue of roads with the municipalities, which is where more can be done. Unfortunately, very little maintenance and repairs have been done on most rural roads, and it is very worrying given the entry of the climatic event.

The Confederation of Rural Associations of Buenos Aires and La Pampa (Carbap) has warned that the province faces this scenario with deteriorated infrastructure and insufficient interventions to mitigate the impact of the predicted rains on agricultural production. Carbap reports having engaged in discussions with municipalities and provincial government bodies.

Pablo Ginestet, president of Carbap, highlighted that the province's approximately 120,000 kilometers of rural roads, crucial for transporting supplies, machinery, grain, and livestock, have suffered from a lack of maintenance and investment. He stated that the proximity of the new agricultural campaign makes this issue a top concern for the sector. Ginestet noted that minimal maintenance and repairs have been carried out on most rural roads, which is deeply concerning given the impending climate event.

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In the province, there has been talk of advancing with canal cleaning works, but very little has been done. At this point, very little can be done to be prepared if an event occurs.

Ginestet also mentioned that conversations with the provincial government regarding the acceleration of canal cleaning and other hydraulic works have yielded minimal progress, arriving too late to be fully effective. He expressed concern that municipal actions are primarily focused on urban emergencies rather than ensuring producers can continue their work. "Unfortunately, once again, producers will have to manage as best they can," he warned, emphasizing that many preventive works, such as road improvements and canal cleaning, are lagging.

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The municipalities are thinking about preventing towns from becoming isolated and about helping people, but not about the producers. The plans are not directed towards enabling them to work in their fields and get the production out. Unfortunately, once again, producers will have to manage as best they can.