Country and Government: there has been dialogue, but the facts are not yet there

Though no concrete progress, the meeting between the liaison table and Sergio Massa is a slightly better signal than the scenario that until yesterday reflected the relationship between the campaign and the government. In the more tragic than comic novel that has become the Argentine reality, this Friday a more propitious chapter has developed than last week, after which in Rural trumpet we titled “Facts are expected and not just confused words”.

After the official accusations of speculation and requests for political party credentials by agricultural leaders, no measures have emerged that give answers to the well-known protests and campaign proposals. But this time a grilled with friendly tones and the peasants said so they felt heard.

The hermetic encounter – wrapped in a plot of inexplicable mystery and without giving the possibility of journalistic registration – had 4 protagonists on each side. Massa was accompanied by the Secretary of Agriculture, Giovanni Giuseppe Bahillocustoms holder, William Michael and the former minister Julian Dominguez.

On the other hand it participated Carlos Achatoni (Agricultural Federation), Jorge Chemes (AVE), Nicola Pino (Rural society) e Elbio Laucirica (Coninagro), who then approached the journalists who had made it 5 hours of groping guard, and offered a democratic press conference on the Acceso Norte side, near the Escobar Industrial Center, where lunch was held. There were no statements from officials.

The most optimistic analysis of ruralists points to the fact that “a new phase is opening up” and they appreciated having been able to express all the concerns, from halts to deregulation of grain and meat markets, without forgetting the necessary strengthening of regional economies. But they made it clear that “there were no concrete answers” and warned that “urgent solutions are needed” in several respects.

“We were heard and talked about issues that hadn’t been discussed before, like a profound tax reform. We raise the disadvantages of soybean dollar, which is not the solution for the manufacturer to have an incentive to increase marketing. They understood that it is a complicated tool as well there were no definitions of changes in the schemeExplanation of chemicals. And he doubled the bet: “The government must take measures that generate confidence as soon as possible.”

In the same sense, Achetoni assessed that it was “a first dialogue with the new authorities, after which we have not obtained any concrete response, but we have highlighted the needs and urgencies of producers of our country. and we express it neither the sector nor the country have much time to waste“.

Pino underlined that it was a “normal meeting, like the first business meeting. We talked about everything, meat exports, trusts, exchange rates, withholdings, and the result is logical for now. We hope that concrete facts appear “.

Laucirica stressed that “beyond proper names, we must generate a plan to advance on multiple issues that concern producers and that allow us to develop fully, to generate food, work and dollars for the economy “.

The expectation is that progress can be made from this first step. Massa is calculating not only his dialogue with the leaders of the sector but also the repercussions of this rapprochement on his home frontespecially among the representatives linked to the vice president Cristina Kirchner, who usually regards peasants as antagonists.

Bahillo’s statements after the meeting showed a conciliatory tone. “We went to listen to them – she said – to draw up a roadmap to work with the sector, to understand it the value chain of the agri-food sector is the basis of the economy “. He said that the most important objective requested by Massa is “to find a common point of work with one of the most dynamic and competitive sectors”.

And he added: “We try to find summary points for make an agenda thinking about the futureand which can have all the sectors that make up the economy predictability to continue investing “.

Even if the internal visions have returned to signs. “It is an industry that has different looks because some come from the cooperative world, others are small or medium producers, others even more linked to large producers or meat … “After that differentiation, he said:” We must join everyone to develop them ”.

They agreed technicians from both sides will meet next week and that the protagonists of this Friday will have a new meeting in 10 days. In this future, the determining meaning will be “told” by the facts.