Paso Yobái Yerba Mate Producers Denounce Transport Ordeal Amidst Poor Road Conditions

Yerba mate producers in the 3 de Noviembre community of Paso Yobái are struggling to get their harvests to market. The rural roads in the area are in such poor condition that even light rain makes them impassable, causing significant production losses. Producers rely on rudimentary methods like carts and tractors to move their crops, making the journey particularly arduous.

Vidal Brítez, a local producer representative, described the daily challenges. He explained that minimal rainfall can render the roads unusable, even after maintenance. Transporting 1,000 to 2,000 kilos of yerba mate becomes a complex task, with carts often getting stuck in the mud. This can lead to overturned vehicles and the loss of entire harvests, severely impacting the livelihoods of families dependent on agriculture.

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Just a slight drizzle is enough to make the roads practically impassable again, even if maintenance work has been done previously.

The issue extends beyond yerba mate production. Residents of the 3 de Noviembre community also use these same roads for daily commutes and accessing basic services, including healthcare. The difficult road conditions hinder emergency medical transport, compounding the problems faced by the community. Producers are calling on authorities to repair these vital routes and provide all-weather access to ensure their economic stability and the well-being of the community.

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Transporting between 1,000 and 2,000 kilos of yerba mate in a cart can become an extremely complicated task due to the mud and the terrain conditions.