Rice producers maintain strike in Peru demanding better prices

Rice producers in the central Peruvian Amazonian regions of San Martín and Ucayali are continuing their strike for a fifth day, demanding higher prices for their product. The protest has led to significant disruptions, with key highways blocked and miles of vehicles stranded.

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paralyzing the country cannot be the way.

The producers have blocked the Fernando Belaúnde Terry highway in San Martín and the Federico Basadre highway in Ucayali. Local media reported a 25-kilometer traffic backup on the latter. The demonstrators are urging the central government to control rice imports, a staple in the daily diet, to help restore prices in the domestic market. The blockades have affected interprovincial buses, cargo trucks, and other vehicles.

Protesters are demanding the presence of the Minister of Agrarian and Irrigation Development, Felipe Meza, to address their concerns and implement concrete measures. However, the National Confederation of Private Business Institutions (CONFIEP) has called for dialogue instead of paralyzing the country. CONFIEP warned that such actions harm families, workers, transporters, and producers themselves, who rely on active supply chains.

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a tremendous mockery

Last Wednesday, Minister Meza announced the transfer of 50 million soles (approximately $14.6 million) to regional governments for irrigation channel maintenance and direct rice purchases. This announcement followed criticism from Rogelio Silva, president of the Piura-Tumbes Farmers' Federation, who called the ministry's purchase of 410 tons of national rice for over 1.4 million soles a "tremendous mockery." Silva stated that producers are being offered "derisory prices" and called for a dialogue table to resolve the national issue.

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they offer us an 'irrisory price' for our products