June 28, 2010

Argentina to double wheat harvest

Argentina plans to produce this year about 14 million tonnes of wheat which would nearly double the previous harvest, Minister of Agriculture Julian Dominguez predicted on Friday (June 25).

Dominguez hopes that 2010 may exceed 100 million tonnes of grains, with a record of productivity and not just in soy.

The Ministry of Agriculture seeks to achieve a progressive direct balance between crops of corn, wheat and other alternative products, which are gaining ground on the Argentinean advance of "soy production" field, Dominguez explained.

Argentina will bet to produce 150 million tonnes of grain in the next few years, "but first we should plan the future," he warned.

In addition, he highlighted the importance of Food Strategic Plan, which will be completing the overall presentation of proposals in 2011.

The Minister also announced that it began to standardise the marketing of soyoil with China, which began to release some shipments destined for the Asian countries. China halted in early April the import of soyoil from Argentina alleging that it does not meet phytosanitary standards set by the World Trade Organization.

Argentina, through its Foreign Ministry, expressed concern about the measure and stressed that it affects primary product exports to that country, causing losses of over US$1.6 million in the trade balance.