April 3, 2008

Argentina grain farmers steadfast on strike

Argentina farmers on protests show no intentions of backing out from the nearly three-week long strikes.

Argentina president Cristina Fernandez recently blasted striking farmers on Tuesday, comparing the protests to a 1976 strike that sowed chaos one month before a military coup.

On Tuesday, the 20th day of the strike, farmers blocked 300 roads, which for weeks have crippled the flow of farm goods to cities, emptying supermarket shelves and blocking key exports.

Farmers have rallied against a March 11 presidential decree which raised export taxes on soy from 35 percent to as much as 45 percent.

Farm groups said they would make announcements Wednesday to decide whether to extend the walkout.