Law for the Promotion of Fruit Conversion in Chile: 5 key points about the project
Since Jorge Valenzuela became president of the Federation of Fruit Producers of Chile (Fedefruta) has intensified the call to promote a new law to promote the fruit conversion of the country.
And, in the opinion of specialists in this area, the short profit margins are contrasted with the more than 600 million dollars that are needed each year to modernize the harvesting process, as well as the insertion of new varieties of crops that allow to compete with other markets in the world.
It is precisely Valenzuela who details six key points of the proposed Law of Promotion of Fruit Reconversion, which has been raised to national bodies such as the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Agriculture, mayors of fruit areas, Corfo representatives and members of parliament. country.
- Your approach: Jorge Valenzuela emphasizes that the word "reconversion" goes over several concepts related to fruit production in the country. However, he points out that the greatest importance lies in the varietal replacement of the species that are already harvested in Chile. He cites examples such as the blueberries from the Ñuble Region, which in his opinion need a financial boost so that they can replant more modern vines. "This is a request that even arose in the Ñuble Farmers' Association while we held our regional meeting in Chillán.
He stressed that they hope that this law can also be applied not only to farmers specialized in fruit, but that it could be an instrument that extends to the production of any product that comes from the land. - It is not a replica of the 701 Law Decree: Fedefruta spokesman leaves a very clear, and explains that the law they promote has nothing to do with the famous Decree Law 701, which dates from the 70 decade and focused on the forestry development of Chile, giving impetus to the plantations of that sector in the national territory.
Valenzuela warns that the Decree of Law in question would be only a reference point that they take as an example to take as reference where they intend to arrive as the Chilean fruit sector. "A bill must be drawn up that requires technical studies of each reconversion project, focusing especially on medium-sized farmers," he explains. - Technology as an ally: This is precisely one of the points on which Fedefruta has placed the greatest emphasis. For Jorge Valenzuela it is "fundamental" that new technological processes are involved for the production of fruits in the country. "It must be said that the technology in the fruit orchards ranges from the same species or variety that wants to be replanted, to the machinery that will be used for the harvest," he says. Valenzuela does not propose how, but insists that, with the modernization of the orchards, systems that have characteristics such as, for example, that are pedestrian and mechanized must be incorporated.
- The official reception: Although it is not the subject of official discussion in any official instance, Jorge Valenzuela observes that the proposal has been received very well. In fact, he affirms that it is a topic that has gradually taken up an agenda within the agencies involved, although he still believes that the issue could take more flight, so that the Government receives it and finally discusses it. "Now, the most important thing is to put the ideas into practice. We need plans, "Valenzuela concludes.
- Your urgency: One of the most worrying points for Jorge Valenzuela is the dizzying modernization of the world fruit industry and how Chile could eventually be behind all that movement. "Both varietal and mechanization technology already exist, are already available, and as a sector we are lagging behind compared to our competitors in the same southern hemisphere." In his opinion, the Chilean fruit market is no longer attractive for large markets such as Asia and North America, hence his concern and the need for this legal instrument.
Jorge Valenzuela aspires that with the Law of Promotion to the Fruit Reconversion it is a policy of State the financing to the renewal of plantations. Likewise, the legal body would also contemplate parameters to mandate the design of credits that have rates and payment terms according to the productive processes of the field.
Law of fruit development
One of the proposals to support the conversion is the one that has returned to take force from Fedefruta, where its new president, Jorge Valenzuela, proposes to create a law of promotion to the fruit production at national level, similar to the Decree of Law 701 for the promotion forest, which in the middle of the 70 years boosted the plantations of that sector in Chile.
From the outset, he warns that the DL 701 is only a reference to exemplify in simple terms where they are going, but that a bill must be drawn up that requires technical studies of each reconversion project, focusing especially on medium-sized farmers.
“This law should guide and advise the conversion process with modern technologies, regarding the correct selection of species, varieties and irrigation systems, according to the soil and climate, both for those who change from one species to another and for varietal conversion, because you can spend money, but without the rest it won't work out”, he explains.
Although he acknowledges that many farmers are already in the process of reconversion, Jorge Valenzuela affirms that the need to create a development law has to do with the fact that the financing granted by the banks has not been sufficient and the sector needs the process to accelerate .
“I believe that the Ministry of Agriculture is clear about the need for reconversion, but it is not necessary to be left alone in the diagnosis. The Government has to act quickly because if we continue with the same thing that has existed until now, this will continue very slowly and many farmers will be left out of the agricultural sector. That is the urgency that we see today in the reconversion ”, he warns, and details that in Fedefruta they already have a study group that is working on refining the proposal for a fruit promotion law.
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