La Rioja agricultural sectors seek emergency declarations

Agricultural sectors in La Rioja, Argentina, are facing severe economic crises, prompting calls for emergency declarations in both the wine and olive oil industries.

The provincial Chamber of Deputies is currently analyzing a Wine Emergency, Productive, and Labor Law project. Legislator Paul Alberto Mercado noted that the initiative addresses falling consumption, declining product prices, high energy costs, and financial difficulties. The commission plans to meet with producers, wineries, and workers to refine the proposal, which aims to provide the provincial Executive with tools to mitigate the impact on the sector.

Simultaneously, the Industrial Olive Chamber of La Rioja (CIOLAR) has requested an emergency declaration for the olive sector, particularly in the Arauco department. CIOLAR reports a sharp decline in demand and sales, rising operating costs, and the sanitary deterioration of traditional olive groves. The organization highlighted that these local struggles mirror an adverse international landscape, citing significant price drops and high production costs in major European producers like Spain and Italy.