The harvest of durum corn in Amazonia began last December and continues until next February, which attracts representatives of the animal feed industry who are interested in obtaining the basic raw material for the production of balanced feed for the production of beef, chicken, pork and eggs.

For this reason, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), through the Undersecretary for Marketing and its Directorate for Access to National Markets, has organized a wholesale commercial link, so that the industry knows the supply and has the contacts of producers for it. they acquire hard corn. Representatives of the Ecuadorian Association of Balanced Animal Feed Producers (Afaba), as well as the companies Avigold, Biometrix, Corporación Fernández, Ecuaitalcol, Pofasa and Gisis SA participated in this link to learn more about the durum corn supply that the provinces have from Orellana and Sucumbíos.

Unions of the animal protein chain worried about the lack of authorization to import corn to cover the deficit

Industrialists learned that by December 26, 990 tons were available in Orellana, while in Sucumbíos the stock was 136 tons. In both cases, hard yellow corn met the conditions of 13% moisture and 1% impurities.

“It is important that the agro-industry is supplied and that there is no problem with speculation,” said MAG marketing undersecretary Nelson Yépez, explaining the need to procure domestic production of durum corn, the basic raw material for the production of balanced food.

Gustavo Freire, representative of Afaba, pointed out that this entity has already started contacts with corn producers in two provinces, in order to procure grain in the coming days.

For his part, Diego Layedra, from the company Avigold, stated that they buy directly from corn growers in the Amazon, based on a quality product that meets the characteristics of moisture and impurities. “We had no problems and we worked with manufacturers from the east,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Mauricio Callejas, of Biometrix, indicated that he had already met the quota allocated for December. But for this month (January 2024) “I will be ready to buy the corn that is still being harvested in the east,” he said.

Imports of 91,566 tons are expected

Meanwhile, the importation of 91,566 metric tons of hard yellow maize approved by MAG for these first months of 2024 will be added to the national production taken by agro-industrial companies, to supply the national consumption and cover the grass deficit.

The decision was made after a meeting of the members of the Advisory Council of the chain of yellow corn, producers of animal feed and animal protein, which is made up of producers and industry representatives, behind the unions of the chain, such as the Association of Producers of Balanced Food of Ecuador (Aprobal), Afaba, the Association of Pig Breeders of Ecuador (ASPE) and The National Corporation of Poultry Breeders of Ecuador (Conave) warned last November that there could be a shortage of grass during February and March this year, which threatened food security in the country.

MAG approved the import of 91,566 tons of hard yellow corn to cover the deficit during the first months of 2024.

This import represents a drop of 74,537 tons compared to 2022, when the import of 166,103 tons of grain was approved for the country’s needs. Danilo Palacios, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, pointed out that after a technical inspection carried out on the ground, it was determined that there is a shortage of 91,566 metric tons of corn.