The National Association of Agricultural Professionals (ANPA) announced the call for a 24-hour national strike for this Friday, October 10, in all institutions linked to the agricultural sector of the country. The measure, led by the president of the union, agronomist Víctor Hugo “Tito” Hernández, was approved by the National Executive Committee and the representatives of the provincial delegations in response to what they describe as a prolonged failure to comply with government promises to the sector.
According to Hernandez, agricultural professionals are demanding a decent salary increase that recognizes the strategic role they play in national production, as well as the immediate replacement of technicians and agronomists dismissed without justification. They also demand the issuance of pension decrees for dozens of professionals who, after decades of service to the State, are still waiting for the recognition of their right to retire with dignity.
The ANPA expressed its frustration at what it considers “unfair and discriminatory” treatment by the authorities, noting that while other sectors have received adjustments and benefits, agricultural professionals continue to be marginalized. “We are the guardians of the country’s food security and sovereignty, those of us who work day in and day out in the field to guarantee food production, and yet we are denied the recognition we deserve,” the union stated in a statement.
The leaders warned that the strike day is only the beginning of a national struggle plan, which could include mobilizations, vigils, and staggered protests if the Government does not offer a concrete response. They reiterated their willingness to dialogue, but insisted that the authorities must move from promises to actions to avoid further deterioration in the country’s extension and technical assistance system.
With this call, ANPA seeks to draw attention to the precarious situation faced by hundreds of agricultural engineers, veterinarians, forest technicians, and specialists in natural resources who work in the Ministry of Agriculture, the Agricultural Bank, the IAD, and other entities in the sector. According to them, many of them have been without salary adjustments for years and with working conditions that do not reflect their essential contribution to rural development and food security of the nation.
