Farmers urge Mapa’ s Manoel Bertone to step down

SÃO PAULO, 25 de maio de 2009 – Growing dissatisfaction with the agricultural policy for the coffee sector has prompted a group of coffee farmers from the South of Minas Gerais to urge the departure of Manoel Bertone, the Agriculture and Production Secretary of the Agriculture Ministry ( Mapa) . Mapa received on Friday a document written by coffee farmer syndicates from Boa Esperança (Minas Gerais), Altinópolis (São Paulo), Guapé (Minas Gerais) and Coromandel (Minas Gerais) in a partnership with the Association of Coffee Farmer Syndicates from the South of Minas (Assul), which represents over 50 associations and 150 municipalities.

Mapa’ s press office has not confirmed receipt of the letter. Two weeks ago Mapa’ s executive secretary Silas Brasileiro left his post, but it has not been confirmed whether or not it had anything to do with the crisis in the coffee sector.

The problems started months ago with disagreements between Mapa and the Finance Ministry regarding readjustments to minimum coffee prices and the creation of tools to boost prices on the domestic market.

In addition to urging that their estimated R$4.2 billion debt is allowed to be paid with coffee rather than money, coffee farmers have complained that a rise in minimum prices to R$261 per 60kg bag is not sufficient to cover production costs, which exceed R$300 per bag.

(Roberto Tenório – Gazeta Mercantil)