Nearly 120 producers in Tintorero parish, in the municipality Jimenez, produce tomatoes, paprika, pepper, and cabbage in some 90 hectares in Campo Lindo and Campo Alegre.
The shortage of seeds has, naturally, affected the sector. In this regard, Luis Corobo, member of Aciprosemcla, said that they produced about 70 million seedling per month in 2015, and that they were currently producing between 35 and 45 million seedlings per month, i.e. a 45 to 50% decrease in production.
He also said that the main reasons for this decrease were the high cost of inputs, the lack of high genetic quality seeds and hybrids in the market, which has been caused by the lack of foreign currency and because most producers store their seeds for their own personal production.
Corobo stated that producers, who used to cultivate 10 hectares were now only cultivating one hectare because of the lack of inputs and the high cost of supplies. He also said this situation had gotten worse in the last three months. Additionally, Agropatria can't guarantee having all agricultural inputs and prices are sky high in the street. "If there are no seeds for outdoor cultivation there won't be any seeds for protected cultivation," he said.
From Jimenez to Venezuela
The representative of the Civil Association said that they sold plants throughout the country, mostly to the Andean region and the Central Plains. Up until last year, they distributed 62% of their seedlings in the country; a percentage that, as was previously stated, has decreased this year.
"We are working with the bare minimum, we have no government support. However, we continue contributing to the national diet. Governments come and go, but producers remain and we'll continue producing," he said.
