This line is the result of the demand of the sector to count with affordable credits that enable to invest on anti-hail nets and working capital.

The country’s Sub-Secretary of Agriculture introduced the details this Thursday morning at APAMA’s site to producers and provincial and local authorities.

A new opportunity to invest in the blueberries sector was opened this Thursday morning when Juan Carlos Maceira, Sub-secretary of Agriculture, presented in Concordia before producers and provincial and local officers Banco Nación’s new credit line that was authorized for the sector, particularly for fixed and working capital.

With really favorable conditions, the national bank entity makes available to the sector one hundred million pesos through Línea 400 to fund the investments, a solution that benefits especially the producers who needed this financial aid to install the anti -hail net in the Department of Concordia.

Currently, out of the one thousand implanted hectares, only twenty of them have this tool of protection against the risk of weather severity.

“This is a funding line we have been requesting for a long time. It’s one hundred million pesos, out of which fifty million will be in execution in the short term since the necessary signatures are already in place, and the only thing that needs to be done is send the pertinent notifications to the corresponding Bank branches in each location”, explained Robert Schunk, Ministry of Production of Entre Ríos, this morning at the offices of the Asociación de Productores de Arándanos de la Mesopotamia Argentina, where the meeting was held.

“It is a very convenient line, because it is about providing long term funding, for a term of ten years, something that doesn’t exist today, with one year of grace for the deduction of capital and at a rate that doesn’t exist in the market: 12% final, which includes 6% discount contributed by the National Ministry of Agriculture”, he added.

“That´s why I think it’s very important for investment in anti-hail net or other investments”, he pointed out.

For the Secretary of Production and Work of the Municipality of Concordia, who attended the meeting in representation of Major Gustavo Bordet, “this is a key approach. The blueberries activity is a core activity, it has become one of the pillars of Concordia’s economy, with intense employment of workmanship. And with the new technologies and investments, the harvest period has been extended and today we have almost four months of work. That’s why these news are essential for the future of the region”, he said.

The new financial tool reaches all the producers who qualify as subjects of loan before Banco Nación. It is estimated that over 60 entrepreneurs will be beneficiaries of this credit line.

“The rest of the productive variables, such as new varieties, drip irrigation systems, anti-frost system, and packaging, are already working. This hail phenomenon places production, labor sources and the area in general at risk; that’s why risk should be reduced and these credits are a very useful tool for the area”, explained Alejandro Pannunzio, vice-president of APAMA.

“Anti-hail protection is essential, since the majority already counts with the anti-frost systems and this would complete prevention measures in almost one hundred percent of the weather risks. It would have a great impact on production, thus giving more work sources and higher values to the area”, said the producer.

According to what Omar Chiarello, President of APAMA, said, this year over thirty percent of the total volume of production was lost in the Department of Concordia due to hail.

Producers, businessmen related to the sector, APAMA’s authorities, representatives of INTA Concordia and of different provincial and national entities related to production participated in this morning’s meeting.

It is estimated that the line of credit will be available in the next days.