Ariel Steffen- Radio República
A group of yerba mate producers and cooperative members traveled to Buenos Aires yesterday with two clear objectives: to demand that the National Institute of Yerba Mate (INYM) recover the powers that the DNU of Javier Milei took away from it and to communicate their rejection of the appointment of Daniel Notta , a man linked to Ramón Puerta, as president of the aforementioned entity.
The producers and cooperative members hoped to meet with the Secretary of Agriculture of the Nation, Fernando Vilella, who cited health problems and did not receive them. The one who did receive them was Vice President Victoria Villarruel, who acknowledged that she had already received criticism of Notta’s appointment as head of the INYM because she was a person closely linked to the industrial sector and more specifically to the businessman and former governor Ramón Puerta.
The missionary delegation left the meeting without any confirmation regarding any of the issues raised, however they considered that the meeting was positive due to the investiture of the person who received them and they also showed hope because they were able to hear first-hand that the appointment of Notta is not as firm as it seemed beforehand.
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“There are rumors in the hallways that he may not be president, but it is not official information,” said Ariel Steffen, one of the producers who participated in the delegation.
The herbalist pointed out that among the issues expressed to the vice president during the meeting that lasted around an hour and a half, the need for the DNU to go back on the deregulation of the INYM was highlighted.
“In the institute there are many shortcomings, but it is a very good tool. It needs to correct many things, but we need the institute to protect small and medium-sized producer families. That includes what today’s price is, that we are experiencing a price well below what it should be according to the inflation we have, so a folder was presented to him,” Steffen revealed.
The producer acknowledged that they maintained a favorable dialogue with the national government official who not only stated that she will visit the province soon to learn more about the working conditions of the sector, but also “committed to the herbal sector that she will be outlining several ministries that are responsible for this so that they can work on this problem,” he indicated.
Regarding their disagreement with the person chosen to preside over the herbal institute, they told the vice president that they require that whoever occupies the position in question look after the interests of the entire productive chain.
“That person does not represent us as producers as president of the INYM because he responds to the industries. We need genuine representation, more so in the presidency, we need people who are totally independent of political, judicial or business power. That he be a neutral person to all that so that he defends a just cause and a good price for the entire chain,” he explained.
Along the same lines, today the herbalists will continue their management in Buenos Aires in search of improvements for the sector, as they will hold other meetings with senators and secretaries in order to make their needs known.
Meanwhile, regarding the removal of powers from the INYM, Steffen stated that the vice president did not confirm whether it will persist, although she was predisposed when they expressed their requests and needs. “We ask for the institute as it was and for it to be managed more by the productive sector so that something fair is reached,” she concluded.
Misiones producers met with the vice president and asked that Daniel Notta not be appointed as head of the INYM
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