Following the gusts in Canelones, the Ministry of Public Works (MGAP) acknowledges that there is no emergency fund and is working on alternatives to assist producers.
Minister Alfredo Fratti toured Canelones following the storm damage. He admitted that the agricultural emergency fund is depleted and they are seeking alternatives to assist the 90 to 110 affected producers, who are facing various types of losses.
Minister Fratti spoke with producers in Canelones affected by the gusts and assessed the damage due to the lack of emergency funds.
Fratti visited affected producers in Canelones, confirmed the lack of emergency funding, and assured that the Ministry is working on palliative measures for those affected.
Fratti Canelones, Agricultural Emergency in Uruguay, Emergency Fund Depleted, Gusts in Canelones, Producers Affected in Uruguay
The severe weather events that primarily hit Canelones have set off alarm bells in Uruguay's agricultural sector. The Minister of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries (MGAP), Alfredo Fratti, toured the affected areas on Tuesday to meet face-to-face with producers who suffered damage of varying magnitude.
In statements to the press, Fratti confirmed that there is still no definitive number of victims, but current estimates suggest between 90 and 110 affected producers. The situation, he noted, varies widely from case to case: while some face crop losses, others reported damage to their homes.
Fratti explained that, since the phenomenon involved intense gusts rather than a localized storm, it is not possible to define a specific area by region or department. "We need to identify the producers, assess the extent of the damage, and determine how to react," he said.
However, the economic outlook for providing immediate assistance is not encouraging. The minister was clear: "There is an agricultural emergency fund, but it has no funds for this year or next because it has already been spent." He noted that the goal is not to pass judgment on how the money was used, but rather to convey the reality facing the Ministry today.
Just yesterday, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Public Works and Agriculture (MGAP), Matías Carámbula, recalled that the funds were used entirely to address the recent drought, considered one of the worst in recent decades in Uruguay.
Fratti emphasized that his presence in the area not only aims to assess the damage, but also to convey a message of support to the producers: "You are not alone. There are many people working, traveling around the department, including in areas of Lavalleja where there were victims."
Asked about possible solutions, he admitted that there is no measure capable of completely repairing the damage, but assured that "palliative measures" will be sought to help those in need.
The situation is uneven: some producers have insurance that can mitigate some of their losses, but others have no coverage. Each case, the minister warned, must be treated differently, both for damage to infrastructure and agricultural production.
In Canelones, one of the departments with the greatest horticultural activity in the country, these types of weather events can have a lasting impact on family finances, making the search for recovery alternatives even more urgent.
