პარაგვაი: პარაგვაის მწარმოებლები კარტოფილის მოთხოვნის დაკმაყოფილებას გეგმავენ, თუმცა კონტრაბანდის შეჩერებას მოითხოვენ

Agricultural producers in the department of Paraguarí have announced their readiness to fully supply Paraguay’s domestic market with high-quality table potatoes. However, farmers emphasize that the stability of the current season and the profitability of local farms directly depend on the authorities’ ability to halt illegal imports from neighboring countries.

The department of Paraguarí serves as the country’s primary potato-growing hub. In the current production cycle, growers are projecting strong harvest volumes that will be sufficient for an uninterrupted supply to retail chains and wholesale markets.

Key Challenges and Farmers’ Demands

• The Threat of Smuggling: Illegal potato imports from Argentina and Brazil crash wholesale prices on the domestic market, depriving local growers of the opportunity to recover production costs.
• Compliance with Phytosanitary Standards: Smuggled produce enters without proper quality control, posing a significant risk of introducing dangerous pests and pathogens into Paraguayan fields.
• Protection of Domestic Producers: Agricultural associations are urging the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) and customs authorities to tighten border controls and intensify inspections at distribution centers.

Successfully commercializing the harvested crop at fair market prices will strengthen the regional economy and protect hundreds of farming families for whom potato cultivation is the primary source of livelihood.