Antonio Walker, future Minister of Agriculture: "Water is a national good for public use and human consumption is a first priority, not speculation"
The future Minister of Agriculture of the Government of Chile, Antonio Walker Prieto, is a man of few words in terms of political contingency and defends his status as independent. However, in the issues that are linked to agriculture you do not need to take the time to make public your opinion and make explicit what you can expect from its management.
His quality as a producer, agricultural entrepreneur and union leader, both regional and national, allow him to have a solid and convincing position regarding the issues related to the agricultural industry.
Water Code
Minister Walker declares that he is a firm supporter of advancing the reform of the Water Code, although he clarifies that care must be taken not to weaken the legal certainty of water property rights.
In an interview with La Tercera, it was clearly stated about the future of the Water Code: "It is necessary to modify the Water Code, which is from year 81. There are effects of global warming. All groundwater treatment is a new issue, today groundwater is very important, because the care of glaciers was not in the old Water Code", Affirms with clarity and emphasizes its position with respect to recognizing that water is a national good for public use and that" human consumption is the first priority and not speculation "declares.
With regard to the changes proposed by the outgoing Government, he is in favor of perfecting the project, because "weakening the right to water ownership generates uncertainty"And warns that this pIt can threaten the investment. "We have super clear domain titles on earth and we also want them to have respect for water, because land without water and without climate does not work. Here is a triangle that for agriculture is very important: climate, soil and water"He says.
The decline of the dollar
Antonio Walker also refers to the impact of the fall of the dollar, which according to experts will remain throughout 2018. "I am the first interested, as Minister of Agriculture, to have a stable and competitive exchange rate. This is a global issue, it is an issue that as a sector we can not change, but the management in front of the Central Bank, in front of the Minister of Finance, to maintain the balance, we are going to do it ", he says, although he also explains that "there are no magic solutions", Because the dollar issue is highly complex and has global characteristics.
"The farmer does not cry out of crybaby, he screams because it really has a very strong impact. Chilean agriculture is basically exporting", Recognizes and calls to trust the authorities because"We are fortunate to have a Finance Minister and a President of the Republic very aware of our sector"He says.
Minister Walker is the founder of the Wapri agricultural company, which in 2004 succeeded in exporting the 200 millionth box of fruit abroad. In his union life, he stood out for being president of Frusptima, the union association that groups together fruit producers from the Seventh region. In 2010 he was elected president of the Federation of Fruit Producers of Chile (Fedefruta), a position he held until 2012 and which until today remains linked as its second vice president.
Source: Martín Carrillo O. - Blueberries Consulting
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