Peruvian farmers end strike, give government 10 days to fulfill rice crisis promises

Farmers in northern Peru have lifted a four-day strike after the government committed over S/150 million to tackle the ongoing rice crisis. The agreement brings a temporary halt to protests that had blocked key transportation routes.

In Piura, producers lifted the blockade at the El Trébol roundabout, while in San Martín, the Sisa bridge was cleared. However, farmers have issued a stern warning: they will resume protests in 10 days if the government fails to honor the agreements reached during a working group meeting. The government's emergency decree outlines S/100 million for direct rice purchases and S/50 million for maintaining irrigation channels.

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The budget for cleaning and maintaining channels should come from other state programs like AgroRural or PCI.

While the government's financial package aims to alleviate the crisis, some agricultural leaders expressed dissatisfaction. Máximo Valdiviezo, president of the Sechura, Middle, and Lower Piura Rice Producers Association, stated he would have preferred the entire S/150 million to be allocated for rice purchases. He argued that irrigation channel maintenance should be funded through existing state programs like AgroRural or PCI.

Valdiviezo also emphasized that farmers will not tolerate being disregarded. He specifically noted that commitments did not include "Reactiva Agrario" or the reactivation of the Talara plant, which produced urea fertilizer. The farmers' willingness to return to the blockade underscores the fragility of the agreement and the ongoing challenges facing the agricultural sector.

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We will not allow the State to 'laugh' at the farmers. Therefore, we will resume the strike in 10 days if the decree of urgency announced by the commission of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation is not made official.