Leonardo Olivera, director of the Rice Growers Association, acknowledged that they harvested about 60,000 tons less than expected.
The producers estimate that since the beginning of the heavy rainfall in March they lost at least 400 kilos of rice per hectare due to inclement weather and floodswhich mainly affected the eastern part of the country, the most rice-growing region.
Leonardo Oliveradirector of the Rice Growers Association (ACA)assured Telemundo that local producers estimate losses at up to 60,000 tons less than expected.
“We have 99% of the harvest already harvested, at this moment we are left with 1% with problems of floods. We have not been able to harvest that harvest,” Olivera said and added: “Since the storms started, in mid-March and April, which is where we generally harvest, we have evaluated that we are losing about 400 kilos per hectare, about 60,000 tons.”
“We are waiting for them to start fixing the roads as soon as possible”
In that sense, Olivera said that the government’s reparation plan regarding rural road “it didn’t arrive on time,” since the harvest is practically finished. “We are trying to get them to start as soon as possible to fix that road that was destroyed. We had the longest harvest in recent times,” he lamented.
“We are marketing well, there is demand, we have 55% or 60% of the harvest marketed and with good prices, on that side good,” celebrated the ACA representative despite the adverse context.
The situation in the departments of Thirty-three and Rocha “It is increasingly difficult” say local producers, due to the flooding of the Cebollatí River and the Merín Lagoon.
In May the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP) decreed an agricultural emergency due to excess water in this area of the Uruguaycovering police sections 2 A, 3 A, 4 A, 5 A, 6 A and 9 A of Rocha, as well as 1 A, 2 A, 3 A, 7 A, 9 A and 10 A of Treinta y Tres.
Source: Ambito
