Argentine drought devastating for poor families and children

Drought ravaged Argentine farmers today ridiculed offers of help in the form of tax exemptions, as “a drop in the ocean.” The government, which has declared an emergency in affected provinces, offered to defer some farmers’ income taxes and stop charging them for transport permits. Farmers had been calling for action to tackle the drought, which is estimated to have caused losses of at least $4bn (£2.8bn).

“This is a drop in the ocean,” Eduardo Buzzi, president of the Argentine Agrarian Federation told a TV channel. He said “this just makes fun of the farmers,” according to reports today from news agency, Bloomberg.The tax-quashing offer comes as farmers harvest the smallest wheat crop in 20 years amid the worst drought in 50 years.

Argentina, the second biggest country in south America, is one of the world's biggest producers of soya, grains and beef. Farming there creates more than half the government’s revenue from exports. But it has been hit by falling demand. And now, because of the drought, crop estimates are being cut as cattle die of thirst. Several regions including the provinces of Buenos Aires, Cordoba, La Pampa and Entre Rios, have been according to the country's national weather service.

On Monday, Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez called an agricultural emergency. "In the face of this hard, painful reality, the government is extending its hand to these farmers," said Cabinet Chief Sergio Massa, the Guardian reported.

Farmers, already at a stalemate with the government over what they call high export taxes, say they want better long-term emergency planning rather than the subsidies and other short-term.

The country has a well-educated workforce and is one of South America's largest economies, but economic collapse in 2001 left more than half the population in poverty as the country struggled with record debt defaults and currency devaluation. There are some signs of recovery, but for many Argentines, the situation is still critical, especially the poorest members of society whose living conditions are deteriorating. The number of people, there particularly children, living below the poverty line is increasing.

SOS Children has four Children’s Villages in Argentina, alongside three SOS youth homes, SOS nursery schools, a school and a day-care centre. The organisation helped more than 1, 300 people in Argentina in 2007.

Written by Hayley Jarvis for SOS Children

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