Agricultural cooperatives of various crops and livestock, but especially coffee, cocoa, bananas and Andean grains, They stated that they face difficulties that affect their corporate governance and tax administration due to the delay in the regulation of Law 31335, on “Improvement of the associativity of agricultural producers in agricultural cooperatives”, enacted seven months ago, in August 2021.
“The responsibility for this delay in the regulation corresponds to the Ministries of Economy (MEF) and Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri). They had until December 10, after 120 days, in order to implement the tax and accounting adaptation processes. It’s been 220 days and it’s not known how long (they’re going to wait),” said Tomás Córdova, president of the Platform of Agricultural Cooperatives Guilds and the National Coffee Board.
He noted that this delay puts hundreds of agricultural cooperatives at risk of being affected by sanctions by the National Superintendence of Customs and Tax Administration (Sunat) due to the lack of specific forms for monthly accounting and tax declarations. “You can qualify us as non-compliant and apply sanctions, affecting our accounting and tax management,” warned the coffee grower leader.
Likewise, he said he was concerned about the conduct of some MEF officials, since they apparently tried to prevent this procedure from taking its course. “In July 2021, they presented a report against Law 31335, proposing that President Sagasti observe it and not promulgate it. Minister Waldo Mendoza made a state issue and Sagasti got scared. That is why we warn that the delay in regulating it incubates maneuvers against the organizations of small farmers”, Cordova denounced.
On the second agrarian reform
In relation to the announcements to implement a second agrarian reform, Córdova explained that the proposal was born without an adequate precision of objectives and strategyin addition to a chaotic propaganda, which has discouraged the rural population from an option of changes in agrarian policy.
“The best instrument to reactivate agriculture is to strengthen the associativity of small farmers through Law 31335. It is about taking advantage of the successful experiences already demonstrated, with technical criteria, promoting governance, value-added processes and economy of scale,” he noted.
“It is urgent to install the Agricultural Cooperatives Concertation Council and prioritize access to technical-productive resources and working capital, with a strengthened and efficient Agrobank. This approach was supported by all political sectors, without exception, having unanimously approved Law 31335. We cooperatives are alert for your prompt attention”, concluded the president of the platform of cooperative guilds of coffee, cocoa, banana, Andean grains , rice and fruits.
Source: Larepublica
Kingston is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
