Chilean lawmakers protest proposed cuts to small-scale farming programs

Chilean lawmakers have expressed strong opposition to proposed budget cuts for the Ministry of Agriculture within the 2027 Budget Project. The reductions specifically target programs managed by the Institute for Agricultural Development (INDAP) that support small-scale and family farmers.

Key proposed cuts include a 57.8% reduction in the Local Action Development Program (PRODESAL), amounting to 14 billion pesos, and a 66.4% reduction in the Indigenous Territorial Development Program (PDTI), totaling 17 billion pesos. Additionally, funding for long-term credits is expected to decrease by 62%.

Lawmakers argue these cuts will disproportionately affect rural regions such as Aysén and Ñuble, where small-scale agriculture is vital for food security and local economies. While local action and indigenous programs face significant decreases, the budget proposes a 440.5% increase in the Investment Development Program, a shift that critics claim prioritizes large-scale interests over vulnerable rural producers.