With the arrival of the rains, the search for mechanisms that guarantee a timely and sufficient supply of fuel to the productive sector for the sowing of cereals corresponding to the 2023 winter cycle intensifies in the state of Portuguesa.
Agriculture unions, farmer organizations, diesel distributors and state civil and military officials are committed to devising alternatives to make distribution efficient and to be able to undertake planting operations on time, given that weather is key to crop success or failure. The position is crucial.
The government’s Secretary of Economic and Industrial Development, Vicente Boscan, assured that the matter has been dealt with in the legislatures with all the actors in the process. “We are strengthening efforts in organizational matters, providing full support to field workers to meet the fuel demand in the planting cycle,” he said.
After a meeting with mayors, representatives of the Integral Defense Operational Zone (Zodi) 33 and spokesmen from the producing regions of the municipalities of Turenne, Pez (Acarigua) and Santa Rosalia, on which corn production is concentrated. Portuguesa said it aims to “provide solutions” to improve the distribution and supply of diesel and gasoline at all levels, especially to meet the needs of the agricultural sector, based on the fact that Portuguesa is engaged in food processing. It is the biggest producer and converter. Plant origin which is largely consumed in the country (pre-cooked corn flakes, rice and legumes among others).
Remittances to agriculture sector doubled
Although the rainy season has not yet been felt much in Portuguesa, Boscon pointed out that the “amount of fuel” delivered to agricultural production in the region has already begun to double, thanks to the Ministry of Productive Agriculture and Lands. is in sync.
He added that “to avoid double dispatch”, both the Regional Executive and the Ministry of Agriculture are “opening lists (of producers), cross-checking the data”, to give equal attention to the sector and to ensure an efficient grain planting. can be faced. fuel delivery system.
The government’s economic development secretary explained that potential plans are being evaluated to “change the way diesel is shipped” in Portuguesa, along with the agriculture portfolio. At this juncture, it is worth noting that farm unions have proposed to seek mechanism that allows them to obtain codes to supply diesel directly from distributors.
About 23 lakh liters of diesel is needed
According to statements issued a month ago by Zodi 33 commander José Gregorio Escalona, the intended planting in Portuguesa for the winter cycle is close to 260,000 hectares, including white and yellow corn and rice. He estimated that “something like 23 million liters of diesel, according to our calculations,” would be needed to cover that much surface.
On that occasion, the army chief assured that necessary steps would be taken and coordinated to meet the needs of the agro-producing sector in fuel, especially diesel, so that all preparatory work would be completed in time. Land and farming.
