AGRICULTURE GLOBAL PRACTICE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PAPER PARAGUAY AGRICULTURAL SECTOR RISK ASSESSMENT IDENTIFICATION, PRIORITIZATION, STRATEGY, AND ACTION PLAN Carlos Arce and Diego Arias WORLD BANK GROUP REPORT NUMBER 93943-PY JUNE 2015 AGRICULTURE GLOBAL PRACTICE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PAPER PARAGUAY AGRICULTURAL SECTOR RISK ASSESSMENT Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan Carlos Arce and Diego Arias © 2015 World Bank Group 1818 H Street NW Washington, DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000 Internet: www.worldbank.org Email: feedback@worldbank.org All rights reserved This volume is a product of the staff of the World Bank Group. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this volume do not necessarily reflect the views of the Executive Directors of World Bank Group or the governments they represent. The World Bank Group does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. 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All other queries on rights and licenses, including subsidiary rights, should be addressed to the Office of the Publisher, World Bank Group, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA, fax: 202-522-2422, e-mail: pubrights@worldbank.org. Cover images from left to right: Andrea Pavanello, Milano; soy in drought-affected soil: CSIRO; drought-affected soil: Abriles; cow (from Paraguay). EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The present study was undertaken by the World Bank following a request by the Government1 of Paraguay and has an objective to identify, quan- tify, and prioritize agriculture risks, proposing solutions for reducing the volatility of agriculture output and incomes of family farmers. The meth- odology includes a two-phase process. In the first phase, risks are identified, quantified, and prioritized from the point of view of the supply chains and from an analysis of the public and private sector capacity to manage those risks. The second phase objective is to define the details of the solutions to reduce the exposure to the prioritized risks, proposing a strategy and action plan. Given that agriculture is a key sector of the Paraguayan economy (30 percent of gross domestic product [GDP] and 40 percent of exports), it is evident that agriculture risks have repercussions on economic growth (and its exports), public finances, and the development of agri- culture supply chains and rural poverty. In particular, risks related to soy and livestock production have great importance in terms of growth and economic stability of the country. A significant drop in production and soy exports, as happened in 2011, has a significant impact in global economic activity, which has translated, during the first quarter of 2012, into a drop in agriculture GDP of 28 percent and in total GDP of 3 percent. But the study was not limited to the commodities of macroeconomic importance; it also analyzed the supply chains and agriculture commodities that are key from a social point of view in Paraguay, given that they involve a great number of family farms. A particular focus was placed in risks and crops that provide employment to the great majority of the rural population and that, to a great extent, ensure the national food security. Therefore, in addition to soy, maize, wheat, livestock, and rice, the following crops were included: sesame, cotton, sugar cane, cassava, and vegetables. Paraguay losses approximately $237 million on average every year, or 5.4 percent of agriculture GDP, due to production risks that could be managed along the main agriculture supply chains. In the years in which 1 Ministry of Finance (MOF) and Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG). Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-iii extreme events have occurred, losses have reached although their intensity varies as a function of climatic $1,000 million. This represents a negative shock that not conditions and crop management (monocropping con- only impacts the agriculture sector as a whole but also tributes to the development of diseases like rust and other other economic sectors. The recent study on volatility fungus). These events are generally controlled by agro- in Paraguay (World Bank, 2014), shows that the activi- chemicals or resistant varieties, and therefore the main ties most affected beyond agriculture are input provision, impact is due to the increases in production costs, which such as machinery, storage, and transport, but also other particularly affects family farming. sectors like construction and financial services, which suf- fer with agriculture shocks. In 2011, $920 million were The animal health problems like the foot and lost in soy alone. This drop in soy production produced a mouth outbreaks have had catastrophic eco- loss of several percentage points in national GDP. Also in nomic consequences. They have resulted in the almost 2011, due to drought, family farming incurred the follow- total paralysis of meat exports, resulting in the losses of ing losses: cassava, $94 million or 38 percent of value of foreign currency and fiscal resources. Its effects reach all production (VOP); sesame, $13 million or 46 percent of participants along the production chain. Paraguay suffered VOP; and cotton, $3 million or 26 percent of VOP. Esti- foot and mouth disease outbreaks twice in the past few mates of regional losses coincide with the supply chains years: The first outbreak happened in 2002 and the last with major production values (soy, maize, wheat) and with one in 2011. Currently, there is periodic vaccination, and cassava. The departments with the largest losses in value the Permanent Veterinary Committee of the Southern have been Alto Parana and then Canindeyu, Itapua, Caa- Cone and Panaftosa are monitoring the National Animal guazu, and San Pedro. The variability in the availability of Health and Quality Service (SENACSA). Weather risks, basic staples, mainly cassava and beans, has represented a like drought, floods, and frosts, also cause important losses permanent threat for food security of rural households. to farmers, but unlike foot and mouth disease, which can be mitigated with vaccination, extreme weather events Given the nature of the impacts and dimension have limited mitigation possibilities. of losses in the agriculture sector, it is clear that there is ample room to undertake investments in Prices of agriculture products from family farms, risk management programs. Paraguay could reduce like sesame and cotton, are subject to high vola- losses significantly and make an important contribution tility, which is directly transmitted to producers. to poverty reduction, stabilizing rural household income. In cotton, the significant domestic price fluctuation associ- ated with low productivity results have been progressively Production risks are the most frequent and of discouraging farmers and causing the decline of produc- greater impact in the agriculture sector of Para- tion in this crop. In soy, on the other hand, prices received guay. The most notable one, given global magni- by producers are subject to international price volatility tude of losses, is drought. In commercial farming, and a strong seasonal and interannual variation of price summer drought accompanied by high temperatures has differentials (specific price discounts for Paraguay in rela- a significant impact on soy, whereas maize, which is also tion to the prices in Chicago). But given the high level of relevant for family farming, is mainly affected by winter current prices, the volatility has resulted in relatively low drought and early frosts. The family farming crops, like impact on production decisions, although it does impact sesame, cotton, sugar cane, and vegetables, also suffer significantly the family farming cooperatives and low- from the impacts of recurrent droughts. Cassava, the main scale traders, who can lose significant resources due to consumption staple of family farms, is relatively tolerant changes in the differential between the selling and buying to water deficits and is only affected by severe droughts. of the commodity. Pests and diseases also impact production, Enabling environment risks are important for the although in general, they do not represent the agriculture sector of Paraguay, in part given its main risks. They manifest themselves every year, landlocked situation and for the past weaknesses 1-iv Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment of public investments in basic infrastructure and institutional response that recognizes the importance of agri- technology. Both commercial and family agriculture are culture risks in the context of sectoral public policies. For the exposed to these risks. For example, the market oversupply moment, it is a project in development that does not reach due to extraordinary entry of commodities from neigh- the producers at a massive scale and that would be necessary boring countries motivated by exchange rate differentials to strengthen and integrate with other ongoing initiatives. (tomatoes) or the frequent regulatory changes in boarding Other relevant projects include the Pequeños Perimentros ports in Argentina result in costs and business losses (soy). de Riego [PPR] (International Fund for Agriculture Devel- In rice, the erratic policies followed by Brazil regarding opment [IFAD]), Proyecto de Desarrollo Rural Sostenible imports, and with frequent changes in sanitary and tariff [PRODERS] (World Bank), Agriculture Supports (Inter barriers, impact exporters and the entire rice supply chain. American Development Bank [IADB]), Proyecto de Manejo de Recursos Naturales (PMRN/2KR), Paraguay Inclusive The distributional impact of risks throughout Project (IFAD), the Family Farming Food Production Devel- the supply chains varies. The stakeholders most opment Program (MAG), and others. affected tend to be the producers, and the final result is often an increased indebtedness and Given these current programs and projects, the the reduction in investment capacity. At the level proposed strategy intends to tackle risks in an of family farming, drought situations, especially when integrated manner through better management extreme, cause severe losses to crops and can have signifi- and with the objective of reducing rural poverty cant impacts on the economy of farmers, making them and increasing the resilience of family farms. reach unsustainable debt levels, to the point of leaving The priority solutions proposed include instruments for them out of the market and forcing them to sell assets. responding, transferring, and mitigating production and A portion of the production and loss variations faced by market risks, and for providing public services and agri- farmers and other supply chain actors, especially family culture innovation. farmers, is the result of unmitigated risks: in other words, risks that could be managed ex ante with adequate agri- The best risk management for family farmers cultural practices, with infrastructure investments, and is proposed through the development of a more with prices and timely information. efficient and coordinated Agriculture Innovation System, and through a mechanism for compen- The rural poverty situation of Paraguay (almost sating incomes in case of extreme weather con- half of the rural population is poor) is intrinsi- tingencies. The objective is to respond to technological cally connected to the vulnerability to agriculture and market problems that produce the initial exposure risks. Family farmers and their households are the ones of family farms to great production risks, and in the case most at risk of continuing or falling into poverty, first due of catastrophic events, to provide orderly and objective to their initial vulnerability situation and second due to emergency support to those families. their low capacity to efficiently manage agriculture risks. In order to change this situation, it would be necessary With respect to animal health risks, the strat- both to improve the conditions by which small farmers egy includes measures for protection of export manage risks and to modify the causes of the initial vul- markets and for improving the country’s sani- nerability situation of those families. tary conditions and safety of food products. The proposed measures have SENACSA at its center and are, The Government of Paraguay is implementing a to a great extent, directed toward the mitigation of foot series of programs and projects that address resil- and mouth disease risk and other diseases also important ience problems and many of the identified risks. for meat exports and national production. However, the A special mention is warranted for the Agriculture Risk strategy does not stop at the external requirements but Management Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture and Live- also goes into the consequences of the sanitary deficien- stock of Paraguay (MAG), which represents the most clear cies related to human health. Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-v TABLE ES.1. ESTIMATED COSTS FOR THE AGRICULTURE RISK MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN (US$) Estrategic Line 2014 2015 2016–19 Total Solutions for sanitary and food safety risks of 19,883,660 51,296,167 126,905,167 198,085,001* livestock supply chains Strengthening of the Agriculture Innovation 3,105,000 6,726,500 13,541,500 23,373,000 System for the mitigation of family farming risks Price risks and the development of an agriculture 70,000 58,000 128,000 commodity exchange Agriculture risk financing strategy 123,400 874,300 1,067,150 2,064,850 Total 223,650,851 * This cost includes all actions identified in the gap analysis undertaken by the World Animal Health Organization (OIE). The strategy also proposes the development of lower ($223 million over five years) when compared with an Agriculture Commodity Exchange to mitigate the actual annual losses of non-mitigated risks, which aver- and eventually transfer market risks, among age $237 million. In the table above, the short-, medium-, other objectives. Price volatility was assessed as a and long-term costs are presented. significant risk not easily mitigated, both for large- and medium-sized soy producers and other commercial com- In parallel, a series of policy measures were modities (maize, wheat, rice) as for family farmers, for identified as essential to achieving an appropri- whom price volatility (international prices and exchange ate agriculture risk management framework rates) can be critical for survival (such as for cotton). This and to put into practice the preceding mentioned difficulty requires strong institutions to achieve more actions. They are the following: transparent markets and mechanisms for price coverage, » Expansion of the control and inspection of slaugh- which can be achieved by the development of an agricul- ter houses for local consumption ture commodity exchange. » Establishment of a coordinating body for family farming risks that facilitates the creation of an agri- The financing of agriculture risks is done through culture innovation system a financial structure based in different simultane- » Budget approval of the Integrated System for Agri- ous instruments, designed to cover in an efficient culture and Rural Development’s institutions in a way the various risks, defined by their estimated coordinated fashion and with the participation of impact as per their frequency and severity. This MAG risk financing modality allows for integral coverage and » Strengthening of the regional coordination of for a maximum of financial efficiency, in addition to actions related to family farming risks providing transparency to public management and very » Approval of a new regulatory framework for agri- likely achieving a higher level of effectiveness in the ex culture commodity exchanges, differentiating post emergency assistance. Furthermore, it is considered between the physical and financial markets that the optimization of agriculture insurance would have » Approval of incentives for the agriculture sec- positive impacts on family farming and other agriculture tor actors to trade/register physical goods at the segments. exchange » Establishment of weather contingency financing The proposed measures are not easily imple- mechanisms for family farmers (such as drought) mented and require a concerted effort between » Guarantee that agroclimatic information is per- public and private sectors. It is worth highlighting, manently shared among data producers and user however, that the annual cost for this strategy is significantly institutions 1-vi Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment VOLUME ONE IDENTIFICATION AND PRIORITIZATION OF AGRICULTURE RISKS Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-vii CONTENTS Acknowledgments 1-xiii Acronyms and Abbreviations 1-xv Chapter One: Introduction 1-1 Chapter Two: The Agriculture System of Paraguay 1-3 Demographic, Geographic, and Climatic Characteristics 1-3 The Structure of the Agriculture Sector 1-4 Main Recent Trends 1-6 Chapter Three: Agriculture Sector Risks 1-11 Soy Clustar (Soy, Maize, Wheat, and Sunflower) 1-11 Rice 1-16 Livestock 1-18 Family Farming 1-20 The Price Volatility Problem: The Case of Maize 1-31 Chapter Four: Production Loss Quantifying 1-33 Macroeconomic Impacts 1-33 Estimating Historical Losses of Supply Chains 1-34 Production Variability and Regional and Rural Food Security Implications 1-36 Chapter Five: Impact of Risks Along the Supply Chains 1-39 Production Risk Management and Impact According to the Actors of the Supply Chain 1-39 Risk Management 1-40 Vulnerability Spots 1-42 Chapter Six: Prioritization and Risk Management 1-45 Risk Prioritization 1-45 Risk Management Priority Measures 1-46 Current Projects and Programs and Gaps 1-49 References 1-53 Appendix A: Yield and Rainfall Data Correlation 1-55 Appendix B: Maize Price Volatility 1-67 Appendix C: Market Risks and Risk Transfer: The Case of Soy 1-75 Appendix D: Information on Programs and Projects, Including Risk Mitigation Actions 1-79 Statistical Appendix 1-87 BOXES Box 3.1: Correlations Between Rainfall and Yields 1-14 Box 3.2: Typology of Livestock Producers 1-19 Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-ix Box 3.3: Family Farming in Paraguay 1-21 Box 5.1: Public Agriculture Research and Extension Services 1-43 FIGURES Figure 1.1: Workflow for the Design of a Strategy 1-2 Figure 2.1: Climatological Averages of Paraguay, 1971–2000 1-4 Figure 2.2: Spatial Distribution of the Main Agriculture Activities 1-6 Figure 3.1: Supply Chain for Grains Produced by Commercial Farms 1-13 Figure 3.2: Structure of the Meat Supply Chain in Paraguay 1-18 Figure 4.1: Average Departmental Losses 1-36 Figure A.1: Weather Norms for Paraguay, 1971–2000 1-58 Figure A.2: Annual Average Rainfall Values for 11 Meteorological Stations, 1980–2010 1-59 GRAPHS Graph 2.1: Performance of the Economy and the Agriculture Sector 1-6 Graph 2.2: Planted Area 1-7 Graph 2.3: Cattle Stock 1-8 Graph 2.4: Areas with Seasonal Crops of Family Farming 1-8 Graph 2.5: Commercial Agriculture Yields 1-8 Graph 2.6: Yields of the Main Consumption Products 1-9 Graph 2.7: Cotton and Sesame Yields 1-9 Graph 3.1: Evolution of Soy Yields and Main Causes for Losses (Kilos per Hectare) 1-14 Graph 3.2: Maize Yield Evolution and The Main Causes of Losses (Kilos per Hectare) 1-15 Graph 3.3: Wheat Yield Evolution and The Main Causes of Losses (Kilos per Hectare) 1-15 Graph 3.4: Monthly Variation of the Price of White Maize 1-16 Graph 3.5: Brazilian Paddy Rice Index 1-18 Graph 3.6: Cassava (Production in Tons, Yields in Kg/Ha) 1-24 Graph 3.7: Cassava and Cassava Starch Prices (Guaranies/Kg) 1-24 Graph 3.8: Cassava Price 1-24 Graph 3.9: Sesame Yields (Kg/Ha) 1-26 Graph 3.10: Producer and International Prices in Guaranies and US$, 1999–2009 1-26 Graph 3.11: Cotton Yield Kg/Ha 1-27 Graph 3.12: Cotton: International and Domestic Price 1-28 Graph 3.13: Sugar Cane Yields 1-29 Graph 3.14: Exchange Rate Evolution 1-30 Graph 3.15: Tomato Yields 1-31 Graph 4.1: Variation in the Gross Agriculture Value 1-34 Graph 4.2: Production of Food Crops 1-37 1-x Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment Graph 5.1: Price of Soy from Anticipated Sales 1-41 Graph A.1: Planting Calendar for Some Crops in Paraguay 1-65 Graph B.1: Average Monthly Prices for White Maize and Red Maize, Asunción Market—DAMA, G$/Kg 1-68 Graph B.2: Seasonal Price Index for White and Red Maize, Asunción Market—DAMA 1-68 Graph B.3: Price of White Maize and Red Maize in June, Asunción Market—DAMA, G$/Kg 1-69 Graph B.4: Price of White Maize and Red Maize in June, Asunción Market—DAMA, Deflated by the CPI, G$/Kg 1-69 Graph B.5: Maize (Corn), U.S. No. 2 Yellow, Fob Gulf of Mexico, U.S. Price, U.S. Dollars per Metric Ton 1-70 Graph B.6: Monthly Variation of The Price of White Maize and Red Maize (Asunción Market vs. International Market) 1-70 Graph C.1: Comparison of Futures Sales in The Chicago Board of Trade 1-77 TABLES Table 3.1: Summary of Commercial Farming Risks 1-12 Table 3.2: Summary of the Family Farming Risks 1-22 Table 4.1: Projections of Total and Agriculture Sector Economic Growth 1-34 Table 4.2: Losses in Tons, GS$ and US$ per Crop 1-35 Table 4.3: Maize: Losses and Coefficient of Variation 1-37 Table 4.4: Coefficient of Variation in Regional Production of Beans and Cassava 1-38 Table 5.1: Summary of the Main Risk Management Practices 1-42 Table 6.1: Commercial Agriculture Risk Prioritization 1-45 Table 6.2: Livestock Risk Prioritization 1-46 Table 6.3: Family Farming Risk Prioritization 1-46 Table 6.4: Commercial Agriculture Risk Solutions 1-47 Table 6.5: Livestock Risk Solutions 1-48 Table 6.6: Family Farming Risk Solutions 1-48 Table 6.7: Short List of Solutions 1-50 Table A.1: Initial and Final Date Registered for Production and Planted Area per Crop 1-56 Table A.2: Selection of Meteorological Stations According to Percentage of Missing Values, 1980–2010 1-57 Table A.3: Moderate to Severe Excess Humidity and Drought Events According to SPI Estimates During the Period 1980–2009 1-60 Table A.4: Planting Dates per Crop and Meteorological Station 1-61 Table A.5: Correlation Coefficients (R2) Between Rainfall and Yield Variables for Different Crops 1-62 Table A.6: Correlation Coefficients (R2) Between Rainfall and Yield Variables for Different Crops 1-64 Table A.7: Correlation Coefficient (R2) Between Accumulated Rainfall Variable per Plant Growth Stage and Annual Yield Data for Soy 1-65 Table B.1: Average Monthly Prices for White Maize, Asunción Market—DAMA, G$/Kg 1-72 Table B.2: Average Monthly Prices for Red Maize, Asunción Market—DAMA, G$/Kg 1-73 Table C.1: Soy Prices in the Chicago Futures Market (Monthly Average in US$ per Ton) 1-76 Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-xi Table C.2: Variations in Soy Differentials for FAS Rio Parana (US$ per Ton) 1-76 Table C.3: FAS Rio Parana Prices Estimated from Chicago Prices and Differentials (US$ per Ton) 1-76 Table D.1: Family Farming 1-80 Table S.1: Summary of Production Area, Production, and Yields by Department (Average 2009–10 to 2011–12) 1-88 Table S.2: Gross Value of Agriculture Production 1-92 Table S.3: Gross Value of Production of Selected Crops for the Risk Analysis 1-93 1-xii Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This report was prepared by the Agricultural Risk Management Team of the Agri- culture Global Practice of the World Bank. The World Bank team was led by Carlos Arce and Diego Arias (Agriculture Global Practice [GFADR]) and composed of Pablo Valdivia (GFADR) and Sophie Storm (Sustainable Development Department of Latin America and the Caribbean [LCSSD]). The following consultants contributed to the work: Jorge Caballero (Lead Consultant), Marcelo Regunaga (Agroindustrial Sup- ply Chains), Carlos Peixoto (Agrifood Supply Chains), Gustavo Picolla (Agriculture Commodity Exchanges), Luis Zarza (Agriculture Innovation Systems), Ricardo Ava- los (Price Risk Management), Jaime Estupiñan (Animal Health Specialist), and Guil- herme Cunha (Livestock Supply Chain). The authors would like to thank the specialists and technicians of the various depart- ments of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock for their valuable collaboration and their participation in the structuring of the findings. Furthermore, special thanks to Raul Ferrari and Celso Gimenez for their practical suggestions and contributions to the technical discussions. The authors would like to also thank the representatives of the various agriculture supply chains (producers, banks, processors, traders, exporters) that contributed their experience and knowledge about their sector to achieve a better understanding of the reality. Anibal Lopez (Economist for Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay), Dante Mossi (Rep- resentative for Paraguay), Jazmin Gill (Economist), Gloria Dure (Executive Assistant), and Rosa Arestivo (Project Assistant) participated in the various missions and discus- sions on the findings. The authors acknowledge the financial support for this study of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Swiss Secretariat for Economic Cooperation (SECO). Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-xiii ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS AF Family farming MOF Ministry of Finance BCP Central Bank of Paraguay OIE World Animal Health Organization BNF National Development Bank PMRN/2KR Sustainable Natural Resource CAH Credito Agricola de Habilitacion Management Project/Agriculture CAN National Agriculture Census Development Program for the Eastern Region of Paraguay CDA Agriculture Development Centers PPA Family Farming Food Production DAMA Asunción’s Central Market Development Program DCEA Agriculture Census and Statistics PPR Rural Poverty Institutional Empowerment Directorate of MAG and Investment Coordination Project DEAg Agriculture Extension Directorate of MAG PRODERS Sustainable Rural Development Project DGEEC General Directorate of Survey and Census R&D Research and development Statistics (MAG) SENACSA National Animal Health and Quality FAS Free alongside (price) Service FECOPROD Federacion de Cooperativas de Produccion SENAVE National Plant and Seed Health and Ltda Quality Service FMD Foot and mouth disease SIMA Farmer Market Information System GDP Gross domestic product (MAG) IADB Inter-American Development Bank SPI Standardized precipitation index IFAD International Fund for Agriculture STP Technical Planning Secretariat Development USAID United States Agency for International IMF International Monetary Fund Development IPTA Agriculture Technology Institute of Paraguay VAB Gross added value LAC Latin America and Caribbean Region VBP Gross value of production MAG Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of VOP Value of production Paraguay Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-xv CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION This report is the result of a World Bank mission that visited Paraguay in June 2013 at the request of the Government of Paraguay. The mission’s objective was to identify, quantify, and prioritize agriculture risks that determine the volatility of agriculture gross domestic product (GDP), based on a methodology to assess sector risks devel- oped by the World Bank (see figure 1.1). The methodology stipulates a two-phase process. The first phase (risk evaluation), which is in volume 1 of this report, was reviewed by the government and evaluates the current situation and perspective of agriculture sector risks, starting from the stand- point of supply chains. From here, and based on the identification of the most impor- tant risks, given their frequency and severity, a list of possible solutions was produced in addition to the existing public and private programs and policies. This process is completed with a second phase, where an action plan was prepared (volume 2 of the current report) that could be executed in the medium term to reduce sector risks and to contribute to the sustainability of agriculture investments. This second phase includes the assessment of solutions, the design of a risk management strategy, and the planning of its implementation (action plan). During the entire process, continued consultations with public and private sector stakeholders were held, especially with the selected supply chain actors. In order to capture the different implications of risks to the various participants, the different realities of the commercial and family farming were considered, taking into account the most important commodities relevant for the different regional realities. The sig- nificant efforts undertaken by the government to maintain support programs in critical production and trade areas of the sector are recognized, as well as the institutional development to strengthen the response capacity to agriculture risks. In chapter 2 of this report, information about the agriculture sector and its recent performance is included, allowing to determine the most important supply chains for Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-1 FIGURE 1.1. WORKFLOW FOR THE DESIGN OF A STRATEGY Government request Development of agriculture Policies, investments and Risk evaluation Solution assessment risk management strategy technical assistance Work with private and Desk review Desk review Implementation public sector stakeholders Integration of strategies into Field work Field work Monitoring medium term programs Consultation workshop Consultation workshop Designing interventions Training Source: World Bank data. this risk assessment and to place the relative economic and impacts of these losses throughout the supply chains and social importance of the various commodities and pro- explores the relative vulnerability of the different actors. duction methods in the appropriate context. In chapter 3, Finally, chapter 6 presents the results and ranking of risks, a comprehensive assessment of production, market, and a list of possible solutions jointly with different public ini- enabling environment risks is undertaken for the main tiatives where some identified risks are addressed. As a commercial and family farming supply chains, in addi- result, a short list of actions is presented as a starting point tion to livestock. Chapter 4 shows the repercussions that for a detailed solutions assessment to be done in phase 2 risks have had in the past, in particular aggregated losses and included in volume 2. incurred by supply chain actors. Chapter 5 assesses the 1-2 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment CHAPTER TWO THE AGRICULTURE SYSTEM OF PARAGUAY DEMOGRAPHIC, GEOGRAPHIC, AND CLIMATIC CHARACTERISTICS Paraguay has an area of 406,752 km2 and is administratively divided in 17 departments, which are at the same time divided into 218 districts. Popula- tion is 6,672,633 as of 2012,2 with an annual growth rate of 2.2 percent and with 43 percent of the population living in rural areas. It is a country with a high poverty rate—32.4 percent of the population in 2011, although falling since 2007, when it was 41.2 percent. Paraguay has a high level of income inequal- ity and land tenure inequality. The richest 10 percent of the population earns 40 percent of total income, and the bottom 40 percent only 10 percent.3 Further- more, 1.1 percent of the rural establishments own 80 percent of the land, and 82 percent of farmers (255,578), who have less than 20 hectares each, occupy only 6 percent of the total area. The country has a landscape that combines plains with slight hills, with the highest elevation not reaching the 780 meters over sea level. The country is comprised of very well differentiated regions, Eastern and Western. The Eastern Region occupies 39 percent of the land, hosts 97 percent of the population, and comprises the larg- est part of agriculture and economic activity of the country. The Western Region (Chaco) has the largest reserve of ecological resources of Paraguay, and the domi- nant activity is livestock. The Paraguay River divides both natural regions, where two types of different climates exist: the template in the east and southeast of the 2 According to estimations by Technical Planning Services (STP)/the General Directorate of Survey and Census Statistics (MAG) (DGEEC) from the last population census data of 2002. 3 Presidential Secretariat of Social Action, 2002, quoted in SEAM, “Estrategia Nacional y Plan de Accion para la conservacion de la Biodiversidad de Paraguay.” Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-3 FIGURE 2.1. CLIMATOLOGICAL AVERAGES OF PARAGUAY, 1971–2000 Source: Meteorology and Hydrology Directorate. Eastern Region and the semiarid to semi-humid in all of precipitation between April and September. In spatial the Western Region and the rest of the Eastern Region. terms, there is a clear differentiation between the dif- ferent zones of the country: The average annual values Average temperatures vary between 21oC in the south- tend to decrease from the southeast to the northeast, eastern extreme of the country to 25oC in the northern going from an average of 1,900 mm to over 600 mm extreme of Chaco, with absolute maximum and mini- per year (see figure 2.1). mums that vary between 40 and −2oC.4 Rainfall pre- sents a bimodal behavior of high rainfall values during THE STRUCTURE OF THE the months between October and March, and of low AGRICULTURE SECTOR The economy of Paraguay is highly dependent on the 4 Environmental Secretariat. “Estrategia Nacional y Plan de Accion para la con- agriculture sector, which provides 30.4 percent of the servacion de la Biodiversidad de Paraguay.” Asunción, November 2003. GDP (22.2 percent agriculture, 6.6 percent livestock, 1-4 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment 1.5 percent forest, and 0.1 percent fisheries) and 35 per- cows per habitant. The distribution of the stock is as cent if one adds agroindustry (2010). This generates follows: The Eastern Region has 63 percent and the around 40 percent of national exports, only with pri- Western Region only 37 percent. A century had to go mary products, with 23 percent only from the oil com- by in order for an important livestock improvement plex (2012),5 and employs 40 percent of the working process to happen in Paraguay, allowing access to ever population. more demanding international markets. A technologi- cal jump happened in relation to the genetic improve- According to the data from the Agriculture Census and ment, the care of animals during the production chain, Statistics Directorate (DCEA) of MAG, most of agri- and a constant effort for improving. Today, livestock culture production is concentrated in three crops—soy, is a key sector of the economy of Paraguay, especially maize, and wheat—which occupy 56 percent, 18 percent, given its contribution to exports (meat), which have and 12 percent, respectively, of planted area with sea- increased significantly, going from 27,000 tons in 1994 sonal crops on average between 2009–10 through 2011– to 211,000 tons in 2010. In terms of monetary value, 12. The three crops are generally produced in rotation this represented going from $55 million to $290 million in large and medium farms, therefore being part of the in annual exports. same productive logistics of commercial vocation. The gross value of production (VOP) of these three crops Family agriculture in Paraguay differs from commercial represents around 76 percent of the total agriculture agriculture given its lower technological level, low capi- production value of Paraguay, with soy reaching 46 per- talization, partial dedication for autoconsumption, and cent.6 At the commercial level, low-irrigation rice is also a less favorable relationship with the market. The family notable, as the production area has tripled in the past farms are more than 90 percent of total farms as per the eight years. Occupying the least amount of surface, but census of 2008, but only occupy 6 percent of the land. no less important from the socioeconomic point of view Traditionally, the main family farming crops are white for family farming, is cassava, beans, white maize, cotton, maize, beans, and cassava for auto consumption, and cot- sesame, fruits, and vegetables. ton, sesame, sugar cane, soy, and cassava (industrial) for selling in the market. On the other hand, banana and pineapple are the main permanent crops. As per live- The largest part of commercial agriculture in Paraguay stock, animals are kept as a savings strategy and from has incorporated sustainable production systems, which the productive standpoint, for milk production. Recently, includes direct planting, fertilization, and improved vegetables (tomatoes, locoto, and so forth) are increas- seeds resistant to pests and diseases. Soy productivity in ing in importance as commercial products among family good years is high and comparable with the other major farmers. soy-producing countries in South America, around 3,000 kg/hectare in the Departments of Canindeyu, Alto The geographic distribution of family farming is very Parana e Itapua (2010–11), which are those where the heterogeneous, but it is mainly concentrated in the crop started and where the largest part of national pro- departments of San Pedro, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Para- duction is concentrated. guari, Guaiara, and Cordillera, in the Western Region of the country. In general, they coexist in the same areas Meat production has a long tradition in Paraguay, with with medium and large commercial farms. Figure 2.2 480 years of history. Currently it has 123,000 produc- shows the distribution in the territory of the main agri- ers with a stock of 13.2 heads of cattle, or almost two culture activities of the country overlapped with the departments where the largest concentration of family 5 Data from the Central Bank of Paraguay. farms and commercial farms and livestock production 6 Calculated based on 2011 production data and average prices of 2010–12. is found. Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-5 FIGURE 2.2. SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE MAIN AGRICULTURE ACTIVITIES Chaco’s Population : 2.7% Concentration of comercial agriculture: soy, wheat, maize, sunflower, canola, etc. Concentration of family farming Major soy producers and % of total national surface Cattle production and % of heads of cattle over the total for the country Source: World Bank data based on data from MAG. MAIN RECENT TRENDS GRAPH 2.1. PERFORMANCE OF THE ECONOMY AND THE The overall economy and the agriculture sector have grown consistently since 2006, both for primary produc- AGRICULTURE SECTOR Gross value added, growth rate tion and agroindustrial chains, with the exception of 40% 2009, coinciding with the international financial crisis Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fisheries 30% Agriculture... + agroindustry (see graph 2.1). The annual average growth rate of the Gross total value added 20% agriculture sector between 2002 and 2010 was 6.2 percent 10% (6.7 percent if one considers only primary agriculture) 0% against 4.4 percent of the overall economy. –10% –20% The large value of production increase in 2010 reflects the 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009* 2010* quick recovery of agricultural exports after the 2009 con- Source: BCP. traction following the financial crisis and the drop in inter- national demand. The same occurred in the first quarter The main engine of growth experienced by the agricul- of 2013 with the recovery of soy and meat exports, and ture sector in Paraguay has been the sustained growth in consequently with total GDP (47.4 percent, 10.8, percent production and exports of soy, wheat, and maize, as well and 14.8 percent, percent respectively), after the sharp as livestock and other commercial activities. drop in production and exports in 2012 as a result of the drought in the 2011–12 crop season and the comeback of The growth in soy, maize, and wheat production, and to the foot and mouth disease outbreak of 2012. a less extent for sunflower, has been notable during the 1-6 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment last decades, especially in soy and maize (which for the GRAPH 2.2. PLANTED AREA most part corresponds to a second maize crop, “maiz zaf- Cultivated area with soy (has) and average participation in each department 2009/10–2011/12 (%) riña”). The planted area with the four crops grew from 900,000 Alto parana (28.3%) 3,500,000 1.05 million average hectares for the years 1991–92 to Canindeyu (19%) 800,000 3,000,000 4.44 million in 2010–11, and production grew from 700,000 Itapua (18%) Caaguazu (13%) 2,500,000 2.29 million tons to 11.15 million in the same period. The 600,000 San pedro (9.4%) soy expansion was done mainly at the expense of forested 500,000 Total 2,000,000 has areas and pasture land. Today it is expanding into areas 400,000 1,500,000 300,000 traditionally occupied by family farmers, given through 1,000,000 200,000 rental contracts or sold by family farmers, mainly in the 100,000 500,000 departments of Caaguazu, San Pedro, and Caazapa. 0 0 2007/08* 1992/93 1993/94 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 Soy production for the 2012–13 season has been esti- mated at 9.4 million tons, maize at 3.9 million, and wheat Cultivated area with wheat (has) and average at 1.4 million, so overall grain production will be 14.7 mil- participation in each department 2009/10–2011/12 (%) lion tons (more than 30 percent above at the average of 250,000 Alto parana (32%) 700,000 the previous two years). A significant portion of the pro- Itapua (31%) 600,000 200,000 Caaguazu (13%) duction is destined for exports; in 2011, according to data Caazapa (12%) 500,000 from CAPECO, 5.14 million tons of soy; 1.94 million 150,000 Total 400,000 of maize; and 1.86 million of wheat (these three grains 300,000 amounted to 8.94 million tons). 100,000 200,000 50,000 100,000 The largest increase in soy was in a few departments of 0 0 the Eastern Region: Alto Parana, Itapua, Canindeyu, San 20 /01 20 /02 20 /03 20 /04 20 /05 20 /06 20 /07 20 8* 20 /09 20 /10 20 /11 2 /1 /0 Pedro, and Caaguazu, which make up for 88 percent of 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 08 09 10 11 07 20 total planted area on average during the years 2009–10 to 2011–12. Soy production occupies today half of the total Cultivated area with maize (has) and average participation in agriculture area in Paraguay. The areas destined for wheat each department 2009/10–2011/12 (%) and maize more than doubled since 2000–01. See graph 2.2. 300,000 San pedro (15%) 1,200,000 Caaguazu (11%) 250,000 Itapua (10%) 1,000,000 Alto parana (25%) Livestock is another raising star in the agriculture sector 200,000 Canindeyu (24%) 800,000 of Paraguay. The cattle stock increased from a level of 150,000 Total maíz 600,000 9.6 million heads, which had been stable for many years, 100,000 400,000 to 13.3 million heads in 2012. The expansion has been 50,000 200,000 occurring from the commercial sector, mainly in Chaco 0 0 20 /01 20 /02 20 /03 20 /04 20 /05 20 /06 20 /07 20 /08* 20 /09 20 /10 20 /11 2 /1 (departments of Presidente Hayes, Alto Paraguay, and 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 08 09 10 11 07 20 Boqueron). Graph 2.3 shows the global trend and by Source: MAG. department. Chaco has less than 3 percent of the national population In general terms, the area dedicated to cassava and beans but concentrates 40 percent of the total cattle stock in has remained relatively stable, while cotton, a crop that 2012, against 30 percent in 2000. in the past had been key for the cash economy of fam- ily farming households, has seen its area reduced from Conversely to soy and other commercial crops, area 215,000 hectares on average in 2000–01 to 2002–03 to planted by family farming has remained constant or has 29,000 hectares on average in 2009–10 to 2011–12. The decreased in relation to some products in the past decade. area with sesame, on the other hand, has seen a constant Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-7 GRAPH 2.3. CATTLE STOCK GRAPH 2.5. COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE Cattle stock (number of heads) YIELDS 6,000,000 14,000,000 Maize 4,500 Yields Kg/Ha 5,000,000 12,000,000 4,000 Linear (yields Kg/Ha) 10,000,000 4,000,000 3,500 8,000,000 3,000 3,000,000 6,000,000 2,500 2,000,000 2,000 4,000,000 1,500 1,000,000 2,000,000 1,000 0 0 500 19 8 20 9 20 0 20 1 20 2 20 3 20 4 20 5 06 20 07 20 * 20 9 10 20 1 12 08 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 19 20 20 2008* 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 Chaco Concepción San pedro Amambay Canindeyu Total nacional Wheat 3,000 Yields Kg/Ha Source: MAG. Linear (yields Kg/Ha) 2,500 2,000 GRAPH 2.4. AREAS WITH SEASONAL CROPS OF FAMILY FARMING 1,500 1,000,000 Total yams 900,000 Total beans 1,000 800,000 Total sugar cane 700,000 Total maize 2008* 600,000 Total sesame 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 500,000 Total cotton 400,000 300,000 Soy 200,000 3,500 Yields Kg/Ha 100,000 Linear (yields Kg/Ha) 3,000 20 01 20 02 20 03 20 04 20 05 20 06 20 /07 20 8* 20 09 20 10 20 11 2 /1 /0 / / / / / / / / / 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 20 2,500 Source: MAG. 2,000 1,500 increase, taking over land that had been planted with cot- ton in the past. Furthermore, soy has been incorporated 1,000 2008* 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 gradually into the family farming crop mix. Source: MAG. Maize, another important crop for family farms, has evolved positively due to high international prices. See Yields of the main crops show great variation throughout graph 2.4. Although the behavior shown in the graph the years (which is assessed in the next chapter) and dif- likely reflects more the portion of commercial maize ferent medium-term trends among them. In commercial (yellow) production that has been traditionally consumed farming, maize and wheat yields have tended to increase, by rural families (white).7 The land planted in cassava, the while soy seems to be stable and subject to excess variation most traditional of auto consumption crops, has varied since the start of the decade, maybe due to the decreasing between 170,000 to less than 240,000 hectares, with an yields resulting from planting in lands with less productive average of 192,000 hectares since the 1990s. potential (see graph 2.5). 7 According to the 2008 census, producers with less than 50 hectares represented Yields of the main domestic consumption crops, cassava 26.3 percent of the land and 16.7 percent of maize production. and beans, do not represent a clear medium-term trend 1-8 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment GRAPH 2.6. YIELDS OF THE MAIN GRAPH 2.7. COTTON AND SESAME YIELDS Cotton CONSUMPTION PRODUCTS 2,000 Yams 1,800 18,000 1,600 16,000 1,400 14,000 1,200 12,000 1,000 10,000 800 8,000 600 6,000 400 Yields Kg/Ha 4,000 200 Yields Kg/Ha Linear (yields Kg/Ha) 2,000 Linear (yields Kg/Ha) 2008* - 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2008* 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 Sesame Beans 1,400 1,000 1,200 900 1,000 800 800 700 600 600 400 500 200 Yields Kg/Ha 400 Yields Kg/Ha Linear (yields Kg/Ha) Linear (yields Kg/Ha) 2008* 300 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2008* 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 Source: MAG. Source: MAG. (see graph 2.6). The analysis of the yield evolution of cas- The public research and extension services have not been sava shows a slightly decreasing trend during the entire able to combat the low performance of family farming. period, except for the last year, where a historical mini- The Agriculture Extension Directorate (DEAg) has suf- mum of 9.8 tons/ha was reached. The overall average is fered a continued institutional deterioration, and the Agri- 14.1 tons/ha. culture Technology Institute of Paraguay (IPTA) has not met its expectations since its creation in 2010. Partially, Cotton and sesame, both cash products for family farm- some public institutional services have been replaced by ers, show very varied national average yields in the short specific projects by MAG, which have limited coverage term and a clear decreasing trend in the long term (see and reach. graph 2.7). In summary, commercial agriculture and livestock have With respect to sesame, the average during 2000–01 to tended to expand in surface, while family farming has 2002–03 was 1,025 kg/ha and in 2008–09 to 2010–11 been stagnated or decreasing, both in area and in yields, was 613 kg/ha. The large expansion of cultivated area, and there is a lack of public goods at the service of agri- the appearance of pests and diseases, the lack of good culture, impacting small-scale as well as large-scale and agricultural practices, and the decrease in soil fertility have export-oriented agriculture. As can been seen further in been stated as the main reasons for the drop in yields. It this document, this situation is critical for the design of is estimated that current yields in years without weather institutional strategies for mitigating agriculture risks, problems are situated in the 400–600 kg/ha range. In cot- reducing non-mitigated risks, and reducing losses from ton, the entry of the picudo has been an important factor. farmers and agriculture supply chains in general. Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-9 CHAPTER THREE AGRICULTURE SECTOR RISKS The assessment of agriculture risks focused on those supply chains that are most important from the economic and social points of view in Paraguay. For that, the mac- roeconomic importance of the supply chains was considered, in particular in relation with exports, and here the importance of the soy cluster (soy, maize, and wheat) and livestock was evident (see chapter 2). Furthermore, the supply chains that are predominantly for family farmers have great importance given their contribution to employment and revenues for farming house- holds that make up the majority of the rural population. The supply chains of the most important cash products of family farming are sesame, cotton, soy, sugar cane, cassava, and vegetables. The crops for autoconsumption such as beans occupy a rela- tively smaller portion of their land and are exposed to similar risks as those cash crops. In summary, the supply chains selected for this assessment were soy, maize, wheat, rice, cassava, sesame, cotton, sugar cane, and vegetables, in addition to livestock. As a group, these products represent 98 percent of the gross value of agriculture produc- tion, and they occupy more than 90 percent of the cultivated area each year, as well as with the great majority of farmers. It is assumed that the identified risks for these supply chains are representative of the agriculture sector as a whole (see table 3.1 on commercial farming risks). The statistical appendix presents detailed information about cultivated area and gross value of production. SOY CLUSTER (SOY, MAIZE, WHEAT, AND SUNFLOWER) According to the Agriculture Census of 2008, 88 percent of the cultivated area with soy corresponded to business above 100 hectares and 62 percent was concentrated in those above 500 hectares. Therefore, the commercial grain production in Para- guay belongs to businesses that for international standards are relatively big, with Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-11 TABLE 3.1. SUMMARY OF COMMERCIAL FARMING RISKS Supply Chains/ Enabling Mitigation/ Risks Production Market Environment Absorption Soy The main risk factor The seasonal and Various enabling for soy is drought in the interannual variability environment risks related summer months, mainly in differentials and the to exports, like availability January. discounts in relation to of barges, and variable Chicago prices represent a transport costs. risk for soy. Eventual lack of availability, in the required time, from planting and harvest equipment and for storage and transport infrastructure. Maize Zafriña maize, early frosts, There is a very high and summer drought are volatility of maize prices the main causes of yield linked to interannual variation. changes in the level of production and seasonal variations. Wheat Excess rains in the Genetic improvement pre-harvest and harvest and the best practices have periods are a relatively contributed to mitigate important risk in wheat, weather risks. as they reduce yields and quality. Soy, maize, Grain production is Export price volatility is Pests and diseases are and wheat systematically impacted by a risk for the soy cluster controlled by chemicals weeds and other pests and as well as exchange rate and resistant varieties so diseases. variation. that the main impact is in relation with the increase in production costs. Rice Drought can only be a The price variability Erratic trade policy by Pests and diseases are problem when it is severe in Brazil is transmitted Brazil for rice imports, controlled with chemicals. and when the hydraulic directly to Paraguayan with frequent changes in system is affected. farmers and is a relatively sanitary regulations and Pests and diseases only important source of risk. tariffs. have an impact when they Regulatory framework is are not controlled. ambiguous for water use. the corresponding economies of scale and high level of develop integrated production systems that involve rota- competitiveness.8 In Paraguay, as it happens in the United tion of soy (main crop), maize, and wheat, and to a lesser States and Brazil, the large majority of farmers above extent rotation of other crops like sunflower,9 canola, and 500 hectares have their own planting and harvesting other cereals. The use of rotations that include maize and equipment. Almost all of the commercial grain producers other cereals are a very important part of this way of 8 If production from rented farms by larger producers is added, the concentra- 9 Sunflower production has been limited due to large losses arising from pigeons tion in production is even higher. and other birds. 1-12 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment FIGURE 3.1. SUPPLY CHAIN FOR GRAINS PRODUCED BY COMMERCIAL FARMS Sector Primary production Services Processing Commerce Storage, the supply Internal or Stage in conditioning, Other chain Inputs Production Processing export transport, processes markets controls • Seeds • Storage • Processing • Food prod. Local market sales Activities / Services • Fertilizers • Conditioning • Storage • Feed prod. • Wholesalers • Agrochemicals • Classification • Conditioning • Biofuels • Supermarkets • Machinery and equipment • Logistics • Classification • Retail • Farm services • Quality control • Logistics • Other processors • Transport Export • Traders • Research and Development (R&D) • Cooperatives • National • Brokers and private input suppliers • Processors companies • Importers Participants and co-ops (seeds, chemicals) • Exporters • Multinationals • Machinery suppliers • Shipper • Cooperatives • Producers • Service providers • Financial • Services providers (including (quality control, services (banks financial) financial) and other agents) • Other Source: World Bank Data. production, contributing to the sustainability of soils and and financial services, involving producers, functioning as pest control. intermediaries for storage, processing, and export; farm- ers are input providers; and so forth. The important growth in production and in grain exports has allowed development and gradual consolidation of Recently, the installed capacity for the processing of oil- the complex supply chain that has been characterized by seeds has increased with new private sector investments, its great dynamism. Figure 3.1 describes the main links in large part from traditional businesses, due to which the in the supply chain, the functions that each actor has, processing capacity is estimated to reach 4 million tons per and the type of enterprise or entity involved. The sup- year approximately. This increase in the internal demand ply chains of the four grains—soy, maize, wheat, and for soy as raw material for the industry (for export as oil sunflower—involve almost the same actors in each link, and pellets) will contribute to define a more homogeneous with the exception of specific stages like the milling indus- demand during the year. try for wheat or the oil and biodiesel industry for soy and sunflower, or the animal feed and bioethanol industry for Nevertheless, the rapid expansion of commercial agricul- maize. It can be seen that in each stage of the chain there ture supply chains, the consolidation of the growth, and is a significant number of different actors. development process face important challenges. Among them are the weakness of the R&D system and the low A characteristic factor of the supply chain is that the main coordination among many of the participants of the actors often participate in more than one stage, showing supply chain, leading to high transaction costs and low an important degree of vertical integration: Exporters competitiveness. operate as industries, intermediaries, and land and river transport agents, owning ports and providing port ser- Production risks. Grain production in Paraguay is vices and inputs and financing; cooperatives participate exposed mainly to agroclimatic risks and to a less extent in R&D centers and provide inputs, technical assistance, to pest and diseases. Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-13 BOX 3.1. CORRELATIONS BETWEEN GRAPH 3.1. EVOLUTION OF SOY YIELDS RAINFALL AND YIELDS AND MAIN CAUSES FOR Correlations between yields of the main crops and accu- LOSSES (KILOS PER HECTARE) 3,500 mulated rainfall measured by weather stations were estab- 3,000 lished. Appendix A presents the details of the study. 2,500 The values found for correlations from accumulated rain- 2,000 fall during the production cycle are not significant. Soy was 1,500 Drought Drought Drought Yield Kg/Ha the only crop where a correlation coefficient was found 1,000 Trend y = –18.735x + 2646.3 above 50 percent (Estacion Capitán Miranda). However, 500 Linear (Yield Kg/Ha) R2 = 0.0635 negative correlation values were registered in one of the 0 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 stations (−24.15 percent in Estacion Misiones) for the same crop. With respect to the correlations obtained for each of Source: World Bank data based on data from MAG and field information. the phonological stages of soy, these show a slight improve- ment, in particular for stage 3, where values of 62 percent and 74 percent for the values of the coefficient of corre- in production areas with soils with less water retention lation in the Encarnación and Capitán Miranda stations, capacity (sandier soils in San Pedro and Canindeyu). respectively. Although these values are significant, such pat- (See box 3.1.) The impact of drought has been very ter does not repeat itself in the rest of the meteorological significant for soy in the years 2005, 2008, and 2011, stations assessed. This shows that both accumulated rainfall with very important average yield reductions for the by productive cycle and by phonological state (such as soy) country (see graph 3.1) and in the main soy-producing do not explain clearly yield behavior of the crops in the departments. Complementary irrigation is not always stations mentioned. an option to mitigate drought risk due to the frequent However, the results obtained do not contradict the hypoth- shortfalls in the supply of energy and changes in tension esis that the variable rainfall is one of the productive factors for distribution. that is most relevant to determine crop behavior. Among the factors that can explain the reasons why higher cor- relations could not be obtained are: (i) the excessive aggre- In the case of zafriña maize, the early frosts and sum- gation of days could be hiding the partial or total losses mer droughts are the main causes of yield variation. The registered in the non-irrigated production systems; (ii) when occurrence of early frosts is sporadic, but they constitute assuming unique dates for planting per meteorological sta- a permanent threat and also limit the planting of the sec- tion and per department, the study could not consider the ond maize harvest if soy harvest is delayed. Moreover, as amplitude of the planting windows for many of the crops;a it can be seen in graph 3.2, in the last decade only one (iii) the plant growth characteristics of some crops allow high-impact frost was registered in 2008, in which losses them to recover quickly after water stress (excess or defi- cit of humidity), as is the case of cotton, which makes the were between 30–40 percent of the production in some period of analysis differ with the actual effective period of departments,10 beyond losses in grain quality. In that same production; and (iv) as rainfall is an heterogeneous variable period, maize production was impacted by two droughts: from the spatial and time point of view, the registered data one of high impact in 2004 where almost 25 percent of at the selected meteorological stations are only valid for a expected average production was lost; and a second one specific area of influence and the yield data that was used with less impact in 2011, where less than 10 percent of was at the department level.b expected average production was lost. Finally, excess rainfall a MAG registers annual average yields for the different planting windows. during harvest of the second maize harvest (June) is quite b This is the lowest level of aggregation of the production data captured frequent, but the hybrids developed in Brazil have spines by MAG. that limit flowering, in contrast with the main hybrids from Argentina. The main risk factor for soy (the crop with the highest economic importance in commercial farming) is drought during summer months (mainly January), whose impact is worsened by high temperatures and made more severe 10 Based on information provided by producers and field agents. 1-14 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment GRAPH 3.2. MAIZE YIELD EVOLUTION AND Grain production in Paraguay has been systematically THE MAIN CAUSES OF LOSSES affected by weeds and other pests and diseases that appear every year, although their intensity varies according to weather (KILOS PER HECTARE) 4,500 conditions and crop management (monocropping con- Yield Kg/Ha 4,000 tributes to the development of diseases such as rust and Trend 3,500 other fungus). These events are generally controlled with 3,000 Drought chemicals or resistant varieties, and the main impact is 2,500 2,000 Drought Early frost the increase in production costs. The biotic factors did not 1,500 appear during field visits as having great relevance in yield 1,000 y = 74.26x + 1666.5 variation. But it is to be noted that in the case of soy, the 500 R2 = 0.6299 0 effects of drought are amplified by the presence of mac- rophomina phaseolina, a fungus that is present in the soil of 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 certain areas and attacks the soy roots with great impact Source: World Bank data based on data from MAG and field information. (total destruction) in drought years. Market risks. Export price volatility is another relevant GRAPH 3.3. WHEAT YIELD EVOLUTION AND risk for the soy cluster. In the case of soy, domestic prices THE MAIN CAUSES OF LOSSES are mostly defined by differentials (price discounts) based (KILOS PER HECTARE) on the Chicago futures market. In the case of maize and 3,000 wheat, in general, transactions do not use differentials 2,500 with respect to Chicago as a basis for calculating prices as they may be influenced by export opportunities from the 2,000 Brazilian market, which has other differentials. In both 1,500 Late frost cases, however, exchange rate variations have tended to 1,000 Excess deepen price risks due to the price differences between the Excess rain rain payment of costs and the receipt of revenues for the sale 500 y = 38.064x + 1483.5 R2 = 0.2751 of the product. 0 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Beyond the international price volatility (basically Chi- Yield Kg/Ha Trend Linear (Yield Kg/Ha) cago), prices received by producers are subject to an impor- Source: World Bank data based on data from MAG and field information. tant seasonal and interannual volatility in differentials, in other words, the discounts with respect to Chicago. These vari- ations are quite large in the case of Paraguay. They are Excess rainfall over the pre-harvest and harvest period associated with local demand and supply conditions, and had significant impacts in years 1994, 1997, and 1998 are directly linked with the level of stocks during harvest, for wheat, reducing yields and quality (see graph 3.3). as well as with a series of other factors that have an impact However, in recent years, this phenomenon has not had a on the evolution of internal and transport cost rates to significant impact in yields. The early and late frosts are open ocean ports (see enabling environment risks, below). also production risks, but have not had any importance in recent years. Only losses were registered in one year Domestic prices are also very volatile. Of the soy with significant yield decrease (about 20 percent) as a cluster products, maize is likely the most particular of all, result of a late frost. At a global level, hail does not consti- as it is cultivated by commercial and family farmers alike, tute a significant threat. It is interesting to note that even and is an export (yellow) and autoconsumption (white) though agroclimatic events have had a significant impact crop. The domestic price of maize according to data for for soy in recent years, this has not happened for wheat, as the Asunción Market (DAMA), assumed to be representa- genetic improvement and best practices have contributed tive of the price behavior in other domestic markets, shows to mitigate those risks. a high volatility in the medium term, linked to interannual Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-15 GRAPH 3.4. MONTHLY VARIATION OF THE not own barges and for specific periods of the year PRICE OF WHITE MAIZE when exports are concentrated) 70% » Variations in the cost of transport through barges during different parts of the year caused by two 50% limitations: 30% 0 Lack of dredging and signaling, in particular in the Paraguay River, through where most exports 10% circulate –10% 0 Lack of a barge transfer station to ocean liners from Paraguay to Argentinean or Uruguayan –30% ports, which results in unknown delays at dif- –50% ferent periods of the year and to a decrease in E-1998 E-1999 E-2000 E-2001 E-2002 E-2003 E-2004 E-2005 E-2006 E-2007 E-2008 E-2009 E-2010 E-2011 E-2012 efficiency in the use of barges » Internal transport cost variations and logistic inse- Maíz blanco Mercado de Asunción - DAMA curity due to the bad conditions of roads and lack Maize (corn), U.S. No.2 Yellow, FOB Gulf of Mexico, of paving in some of the most important produc- U.S. price, U.S. dollars per metric ton tion areas Source: World Bank data based on data from MAG. Another enabling environment risk factor linked to har- changes in the production level and seasonal variations, vest and marketing, but that has been very difficult to and which is greater than the volatility of international quantify during field visits, is associated with the eventual prices (see graph 3.4). In the short run, the main cause of lack of availability, in the needed time period, of planting and har- interannual price changes is found in the yield variations vesting equipment and of storage and transport infrastructure, both due to weather events, but there could be other factors for soy and maize. These deficiencies can have an impact impacting like fires and contraband. on the harvests in optimal periods with short windows (few days for planting, for example, for zafriña maize in However, there are differences in price behavior between the recommended dates), facing weather risks and availa- yellow and white maize, detrimental to the latter. The bility of additional transport. The lack of machinery and series of monthly percentage variations in the wholesale harvesting services is a limitation for several farmers that domestic price of white and yellow maize have a stand- have limited machinery of their own and that at times ard deviation of 17 percent and 12 percent, respectively, cannot plant all of the area with zafriña maize as they against 6 percent exhibited by the international price of potentially can. Regardless, this was not a risk that seemed yellow maize during the period 1998–2012. The family very important for most producers. farmers (white maize) suffer a greater price volatility and benefit less from the increases in international prices com- pared to commercial farmers who produce yellow maize RICE for export for agroindustries. Rice has grown and continues to grow at a great pace, the estimated area planted at 105,000 hectares in 2012. In appendix A the full discussion on maize price volatility This number contrasts with 30,000 hectares 10 years is presented. ago (according to data from MAG). The main produc- tion areas are in Itapua and Misiones, but the crop has Enabling environment risks. Several enabling environ- been expanding northward in the direction of Asunción ment risks linked to exports were identified as they impact in and also Caazapa. According to data from the Agriculture greater marketing costs. The main ones are: Census of 2008, the production is very concentrated in » Insecurity in the supply of river barges for trans- medium to large farmers, with approximately 80 percent port to the ocean ports (especially for actors that do of the area in the hands of 8 percent of the producers 1-16 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment with more than 500 hectares each. The family farmers Another issue, more of a threat than a risk, is the every- are the majority (62 percent), but only have 2.3 percent day rice seed used in Paraguay. The seeds that are regularly of the cultivated area with rice. Among small producers used in Paraguay are varied, but in general they are the interviewed, the average size of rice farms is 7–8 hectares, ones of the rice compatible with the preference of the and all of them have a quarter of their land for autocon- Brazilian market. The adoption of these seeds was done sumption crops. The yields are varied, from 1,500 kg/ha without following the established international proce- for more inefficient producers to 8,000 kg/ha for farm- dures on the right of use of seeds. They do not have ers with modern technologies; the national average is legal rights for their use, and it is feared that at some 5,000 kg/ha approximately. point in time there can be legal action by the Brazilian farmers if they feel threatened by the competition from In the country, there are 20 rice mills, most of them in Paraguay, which is growing in the volume imported in the business of vertical integration. The largest producers Brazil. have their own mill and sell directly to one of them. How- ever, the smaller farmers sell to intermediaries who also Ambiguous regulatory framework for water use. The lack of clar- provide inputs and credit for working capital, with interest ity in the regulatory framework12 for water use leads to rates that reach 36 percent. National production is esti- situations of conflict between rice producers and other mated at 620,000 tons in 2013, of which 125,000 only are rural populations, which in the most extreme circum- consumed domestically. The rest is exported, Brazil being stances have produced problems in the production and the main market (82 percent of what was exported last led to economic losses. Furthermore, the legislation does year). Other markets are Chile, Peru, and Russia. Only not include practical mechanisms for conflict resolution, 165 of the total exported volume was traded with HULL, which in the bureaucratic instances of the judicial admin- representing a great advance since 2007 when it was 57 istration have tended to perpetuate long-term conflicts. percent.11 All of this would be resolved, and the risk for farmers reduced, if the norms on water use were clear and would With the exception of extreme droughts and hail at a local be enforced in an effective fashion. level, rice does not face great natural risks. The main risks are related to the context in which the production and Production risks. Production risks are relatively low for exports develop. rice. Drought could be a significant problem only when it is severe and when the hydrological system is affected. The Enabling environment risks. Access to the Brazilian impact tends to be greater among smaller farmers with a market. The rice producers and industry face great uncer- lower capital level, with no appropriate reservoirs to store tainty with respect to the Brazilian market due to the water. The mitigation strategy disseminated is to plant erratic trade policy by Brazil for imports, with frequent ahead of time, in September, in order to harvest earlier, changes in sanitary regulations and tariffs. Even recently in January. On the other hand, yields tend to be lower the government of Brazil has threatened to impose when planting is delayed. The last years when a drought import quotas. Brazil justifies this policy with the argu- was recorded was 2009 and 2011. Another natural hazard ment that Paraguayan imports, although small in quantity that worries rice producers is hail. It is not a frequent event with respect to Brazil’s domestic supply, has an impact on and it is not systemic, but when it happens, it can cause prices to Brazilian farmers because it arrives at a time of up to 100 percent of losses in the most affected areas. The the Brazilian Harvest. The reality is that the trade policy last year recorded was 2010–11. represents an important risk for prices and for market access, especially for farmers with little storage capacity to Finally, pests and diseases are a risk of a certain impor- sell the product out of season. tance among small farmers. Those who have resources, 11 Data provided by Trociuk Industries. 12 Water Resources Law and other legal norms. Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-17 GRAPH 3.5. BRAZILIAN PADDY RICE INDEX Market risk. Producer prices are set in relation to the $ 400 R$ 42.00 prices paid by processors in San Pablo for rice in the hull, $ 380 making the corresponding discounts for transport and $ 360 R$ 37.00 $ 340 other costs (see graph 3.5). Price variability in Brazil is $ 320 R$ 32.00 transmitted directly to Paraguayan farmers and is a rel- $ 300 $ 280 R$ 27.00 atively important risk source, mainly at the level of the $ 260 small farmers who do not have much negotiating power $ 240 R$ 22.00 $ 220 with the intermediaries. $ 200 R$ 17.00 8/17/09 11/5/09 2/1/10 4/23/10 7/12/10 9/28/10 12/7/10 2/24/11 5/13/11 7/26/11 10/11/11 12/29/11 3/19/12 6/4/12 8/20/12 11/15/12 1/31/13 LIVESTOCK Brazil paddy price index US$/Ton The meat supply chain can be divided in two systems (see Brazil paddy price index Real/50 Kg figure 3.2). In system A we have modern businesses with Source: World Bank data based on data from MAG. important investments in physical infrastructure, livestock genetic improvement, and animal health. For the most part, the cattle has adequate international market quality have technical knowledge, and are organized effectively standards. Meat is produced in modern packinghouses that even use fumigation by area. However, the impact is high in their majority comply with the norms and controls of in small farms that do not have the technology nor the the official veterinary services and are authorized by inter- resources to efficiently control it. Among small producers, national and national markets. The packinghouses supply it was observed that only those that are organized in com- mainly external demand, and what cannot be exported is mittees have relatively efficient controls compared to the sold in the domestic market. The meat products of this sys- medium and larger farmers. tem are destined for premium market niches. In system B FIGURE 3.2. STRUCTURE OF THE MEAT SUPPLY CHAIN IN PARAGUAY External market Modern feed Convenience Premium and processing stores buyers System A Modern Supermarkets livestock Small retailers Traditional feed and processing Standard Butcher shops buyers System B Traditional livestock Illegal feed Local markets Source: World Bank data. 1-18 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment BOX 3.2. TYPOLOGY OF LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS Small livestock producers (family farmers) represent 83 per- of production is higher, and they are more integrated to the cent and provide 13 percent of production. They are char- agro-industrial supply chain although they supply local and acterized by their low productivity, empiric knowledge, no regional slaughterhouses. The largest producers are only or little contact with the other links in the commercial sup- 3 percent of the total but supply 61 percent of total produc- ply chain, and weak participation in the sanitary campaigns tion. They have farms of more than 500 heads of cattle and to reduce disease outbreaks. These producers are dedicated possess high levels of capital, participate in the sanitary cam- mainly to milk production and eventually sell their cows that paigns, and are totally integrated to the agro-industrial sup- are no longer productive, and if they do trade meat, they are ply chain. However, there is great diversity within the large considered small with less than 100 heads. Livestock for small producers with respect to the level of technological develop- producers is considered an integral part of family farming, ment. The traditional producers are farms with extensive playing an important role in the capitalization process of the production and low productivity. The large and modern farm. The medium-size farmers however, are 14 percent of farms are managed based on business concepts and are the the total and produce 25 percent of total production. They most dynamic segment of the livestock sector of Paraguay, are concentrated in farms with 100 to 500 heads of cattle. responsible for the great improvements in the modernization The indicators are better than the previous category as they of production. Its production targets the best international access some technical assistance and formal credit. The level markets in a competitive way. are the medium and small producers, with medium and with better water conservation infrastructure can bet- low technological levels, that sell their product to autho- ter mitigate its effects. rized and non-authorized packinghouses that only supply the domestic market. It is estimated that packinghouses Floods. Floods occur frequently between the months of produce 60 percent of total production, while slaughter- December and March and can affect millions of hectares houses 40 percent. of the Western Region of the country. These are clay soils that have a very slow water absorption rate, to which a slow incline is added, inhibiting good drainage. The last With this supply chain logic three different type of pro- extreme flooding periods were in the years 2010, 2011, ducers are considered (see box 3.2): small, medium and and 2012. In 2012, rainfall left large extensions of land large producers. According to their level of capital, under water in three departments of the northwest, and their technological development and their relationship that were declared in emergency situation. According to with the market, they suffer the effects of risks in a dif- the National Animal Health Service (SENACSA), 180,000 ferentiated manner. heads of cattle were affected by floods. Between 5 percent and 10 percent of animals died, especially calves. Further- Production risks. Drought. Drought occurs in every more, other production losses were registered, like animal region of Paraguay, impacting severely the West- weight loss by having to walk long distances to other areas, ern Region (Chaco) during the months of June to pasture loss, increase in production costs to rent pastures September. This is the time of the year when rainfall is and transport animals, and so forth. Losses have long- lowest and when the probability of drought is highest. term impacts, so this risk can be catastrophic for small Droughts occur frequently in periods of four to five farmers. years, with extreme periods every 10 years approxi- mately. The last drought periods were in 2008 and Frosts. Severe frosts are not very frequent but can cause 2009. Production losses were estimated in the follow- important damage to all producers. In July 2010, 2,000 to ing percentage over technical indicators: pregnancy 3,000 animals in Cencepcion and Amambay died due to rate, 30 percent; birth rate, 25 percent; weight loss, frost. After the field visit, information was provided that a 20 percent; and reduction in meat output, 20 percent. severe frost in August 2013 was responsible for the deaths Drought impacts all type of producers, although those of between 4,000 and 5,000 animals. Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-19 Foot and mouth disease (FMD). FMD is a disease farms and make up 20 percent of the gross value of that affects cattle, sheep, and goats, and whose economic production of all agriculture products selected for this consequences are catastrophic. It results in the almost assessment. The cash crops dominate the production total paralysis of meat exports, for which foreign cur- decisions of family farms and are the ones where farm- rency is lost, fiscal deficits are produced, and producers ers spend most money both in terms of working capital and other actors along the supply chain are seriously as in investment (see table 3.2 for a summary of family impacted. Paraguay suffered FMD twice in the last few farming risks). years: the first outbreak in 2002 and the last one in 2011 in the area of Sargento Loma, department of San Pedro. Cassava. Cassava is a traditional crop in Paraguay, with The outbreak in late 2011 impacted external trade and a great social and economic importance and strongly the livestock sector in the middle of a growth period. It related to family farming, both for autoconsumption as caused Paraguay to lose the status of Free of FMD with- for selling. It is a well-adapted crop to soil conditions and out vaccination. weather in Paraguay, generally tolerant to drought and degraded soils or low fertility. Its production and con- Although the large shock caused by the FMD outbreak of sumption cover the entire territory as it is a component 2011 on the national economy and the livestock sector— of the basic diet of rural and urban families, although after the closing of the Chilean market, which was the it has a greater concentration in the departments of largest meat export market for Paraguay—other markets Caaguazu and San Pedro, in the first place, followed by became available, in particular the Russian market, which Itapua, Caazapa, and Canindeyu. Cassava occupies the became the main meat export market for Paraguay. This fourth place in relationship to cultivated area, after soy, was a great change, and a very effective absorption strat- maize and wheat. A total of 225,327 farms, 78 percent egy, as it avoided larger production losses, and in fact, kept of the total, cultivate cassava, and the planted surface the sector afloat during the worse months of the crisis. But per farm is 0.8 hectares per hectare (National Agricul- clearly, this implied more transport costs and the accept- ture Census [CAN] 2008). In general, in cassava culti- ance of lower sale prices. vation traditional practices are used, with low adoption of available technological knowledge. But the traditional Enabling environment risks technology is low cost given the relative tolerance and Land invasions and cattle rustling. The problem with land low incidence of pests and diseases in the crop and the invasions in Paraguay happens more frequently in the use of their own seeds. Eastern Region but causes losses throughout the supply chain. It produces a reduction in livestock production Beyond its consumption in fresh, part of the cassava due to death of animals and the destruction of on- production is destined for the production of starch. farm infrastructure, and so forth. The largest impact There are no official values about the destination of the on producer losses is in the reduction in the value of production. In general it is estimated that 70 percent the land. Cattle rustling occurs throughout the entire of cassava production goes for autoconsumption in the country, but with more frequency in the department farms, be it for human or animal consumption, 20 per- of San Pedro. cent is sold in fresh in markets and urban centers, and 10 percent goes for processing: cassava starch produc- FAMILY FARMING tion (industrial and handcraft) and alcohol production. The family farming productive system (see box 3.3) With respect to the main actors in the industrial chain, shows in general a combination of three to four prod- there are today 14 extractive plants for cassava starch; ucts for household consumption and one or two for mar- the main two companies, CODIPSA and ALMISA, ket sale and household income, changing from region have seven processing plants for cassava starch (four and to region. Six of the cash crops (sesame, cassava, sugar three respectively). Current production is 60,000 tons cane, cotton, soy and vegetables) represent 90 percent per year of starch, but the industry has 50 percent of of the gross value of agriculture production of family excess capacity. 1-20 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment BOX 3.3. FAMILY FARMING IN PARAGUAY Conceptually, Family Farming (AF) is defined as “the rural Production Percent of productive activity that is executed using mainly family (’000 Tons) AF in the labor for production in a farm; and that hires in one year over 20 days of temporary labor in specific seasons related to Product National AF Total the productive process, residing in the farm and/or nearby Maize tupí 990.6 206.6 20.9 communities and that do not utilize—under any condition normal of ownership, rental or other relation—more than 50 hect- harvest ares in the Eastern Region and 500 hectares in the Western Maize tupí 1,384.3 119.3 8.6 Region, independently of the product produced.”a between harvests The rural population segment defined as AF possesses an (zafriña) important representation in numbers and in production in Maize chipá 85.8 79.1 92.2 the country. In terms of numbers, AF represents 91 percent Beans with hull 44.6 41.9 93.9 of all farms under the CAN 2008, above other countries in the region.b In productive terms, the available references indi- Cassava 2,218.5 2,075.6 93.6 cate that AF has a significant contribution in the country’s Sugar cane 5,084 2,672.5 52.6 agriculture production. In other products, during the refer- Peanuts with hull 30 11.3 37.7 ence period of the CAN 2008 the contribution reached more Sesame 50 44.5 89 than 90 percent of the volume produced in maize chipá, Banana 59.5 55.8 93.2 beans, cassava, banana, and pineapple; between 50 percent Pineapple 54.3 52.7 97.1 and 90 percent of sesame, milk, and sugar cane for industrial Milk (’000 liters) 1,982.6 1,058.6 54.9 production; and less than 50 percent for maize tupí regular harvest and peanuts.c See table below. Source: Quoted in MAG, Family farming agriculture production program, 2010, in database from CAN 2008. However, even with the relevant economic and social weight, the capacity of the family farming units to be integrated com- • On the other hand, the proportion of AF productive petitively in productive chains and dynamic businesses has units serviced by institutional credit has decreased from been varied, with a high percentage of them staying below 33.6 percent in 1991 to 17.7 percent in 2008. productive efficiency levels. Average physical yields from • Technical assistance, as a strategic resources to promote most productive activities of AF (cassava, beans, peanuts, changes towards higher efficiency levels, covers 44,000 sugar, cotton) have stayed stagnant and in some cases with farms, around 15 percent of total censed farms in 2008. decreasing trends when comparing averages between 1981– 89, 1990–99, and 2000–08. Some exceptions to the rule are The characteristics mentioned determined at last the poverty tomatoes, locote, maize, crops that have shown significant levels, which in 2011 affected almost 45 percent of rural pop- increases in yields for those periods.d ulation, or 1.2 million people, of which 782,000 people were in a situation of extreme poverty.f The small changes within the productive operations of the a Strategic Agriculture Framework, 2009–18. Page 33. majority of productive activities are attributable to the weak b Strategic Agriculture Framework, 2009–18. Page 33. access to the main production means by their members:e c MAG. Family farming national food production program. Consultant report, 2011. Page 5. • In terms of land possession of the farms with less than d Strategic Agriculture Framework, 2009–18. Page 37. 50 ha, which represent 91 percent of total farms, con- e Strategic Agriculture Framework, 2009–18. Pages 35–0. trolling 6 percent of land censed. f DGEEC. Poverty and Income Bulletin 2011. Production risks. According to what was identified in the plant growth is impacted at the beginning of the root’s the interviews with producers, the most important pro- “load,” leading to a reduction in yields and production. duction risk is drought. Although cassava is a crop that is Other weather risks are the late frosts and hail; but these risks quite resistant to water deficit, it is affected when drought have very localized impacts and are of low probability of is severe, like the event of the 2011–12 season. The most occurring. Both have an impact in the plant’s growth, and severe droughts occur in December–January; in this period when they occur, they cause significant damage to farmers. Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-21 TABLE 3.2. SUMMARY OF THE FAMILY FARMING RISKS (Continued ) Supply Chains/ Enabling Mitigation/ Risks Production Market Environment Absorption Sesame Pests and diseases: Price volatility: export Export losses due to Pests and diseases: growing problem due to product subject to quality deficiencies: has treatments are put degradation of soils and international market occurred occasionally, in practice, but are larger disease outbreaks. variations; sharp the last one in January insufficient. A better Drought: generalized variations in farmer 2013 with a claim from crop management is hazard; occurs in its prices during 2003–04 Japan. needed. (+) severe form every 5 to 2008–09 period, years, reduces yields and afterwards annual production and export average prices have been volumes.(*) relatively stable. Price drops are transmitted to Hail: very localized; farmers. occurs occasionally, and causes large damages in affected areas. Cassava Drought: Cassava is Price volatility: Pests: Are controlled with (autoconsumption quite tolerant to drought Reference price is the effectiveness. 70 percent, fresh but is impacted when the international market; 20 percent, and 10 drought is severe like in short term variations percent for industry) 2011–12. are influenced by fresh Pests: infrequent and product demand and with minor impact. supply. The risk to the industry is that it should supply itself during the periods in which prices are high for fresh product. Sugar cane (organic, Drought: Occurs with Drought: Production as input to organic a certain frequency and diversification sugar production impacts yields. (*) (autoconsumption is majority over Frost: The conjunction products, animals, traditional sugar) of drought and vegetables). (+) frost increases losses considerably. Vegetable products Drought and frosts: Oversupply in the Drought: Irrigation, Apparently weather market: entrance half shade, application in the past few years of products from of green fertilizer, and has changed, with a neighboring countries coverage. reduction in rainfall and due to exchange rate increase in temperature differences (tomatoes) or in January and February, other reasons. Positive increasing the weather impact for the consumer, risk for this period. but it is not a problem for farmers who find it difficult to sell their products. 1-22 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment TABLE 3.2. SUMMARY OF THE FAMILY FARMING RISKS (Continued ) Supply Chains/ Enabling Mitigation/ Risks Production Market Environment Absorption Soy Drought: It happens Price volatility: given Ambiguity of the Drought: planting every 3–5 years; the most the high level of regulatory framework of soy before the season remembered ones were price variability is neighboring countries (September) in order to 2009 and 2011. not a problem, but (such as frequent changes avoid pests and diseases: Hail: affects localized that it could impact in the Argentinean port pest and diseases are areas. severely small farmer regulations: results in an controlled regularly, cooperatives and increase in the costs and although in an inefficient Pests and diseases: soy intermediaries due to reduction in business). fashion. (+) rust, related to excess the differential between humidity; army worms. the buying and selling The risk increases in prices. relation to the absence of technical assistance to Exchange rate variation: farmers. appreciation of the exchange rate between the moment when inputs are bought and when products are bought. Cotton Drought: Three years Price volatility: The Prices: The government of intense drought industry transfers price distributes compensation between 2005 and variation to all actors. resources; high fiscal 2013. Soil degradation Exchange rate costs. is aggravating the variability: impacts situation. farmers mainly. Hail: localized hazard. Pests: Some like oruga and perillero are controllable risks; picudo (anthonomus grandis) is established in most of the country and forces a permanent control; in some years its population grows significantly. (*) Drought reduces yields and produces significant losses in terms of production and farmer income. Cooperatives face supply problems, which results in the increase in per unit cost of each transaction, making it difficult to repay credit and default risk. Absorption of risks. (+) Normally applies for producers with a certain level of indebtedness, sale of animals, off-farm work, selling of land, and emigration. Faced with requests from farmers, the government transfers resources to compensate for losses incurred. In graph 3.6 the spikes in yield losses for cassava are shown. been as important as the ones verified in other crops; the They occur in the years 1998–99, 2007–08, and 2011–12, drops of 1998–99 and 2007–08 were below 10 percent with associated to drought.13 However, the yield drops have not respect to the average for that period, which is 14.1 ton/ha and even lower than the trend value for those years. 13 It is to be noted the extraordinary low yield under the last campaign (2011– 12), 9,800 kg/ha, given that in the entire historical series of cassava since 1980, yield has been an estimation error (possible to be fixed by this year’s season yields have never been below 12,000 kg/ha. It is likely that that unusually low results) and not only the impact of drought, even as severe as it was. Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-23 GRAPH 3.6. CASSAVA (PRODUCTION IN TONS, YIELDS IN KG/HA) 3,500,000 20,000 3,000,000 18,000 Production (tons) 2,500,000 16,000 2,000,000 14,000 1,500,000 Drought Moderate 12,000 1,000,000 drought 500,000 Intense 10,000 drought 0 8,000 1990/91 1991/92 1992/93 1993/94 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 Production Yield Trend (yields) Source: MAG. Finally, other production risks are the occurrence of pests GRAPH 3.7. CASSAVA AND CASSAVA STARCH and diseases. In general, losses to cassava farmers caused PRICES (GUARANIES/KG) by pest and diseases are few compared to the impacts of 700 weather risks; important attacks are very infrequent. Pests 600 affect the plant growth as they attack the foliage and dis- 500 eases reduce the energy of the plant, reducing foliage and 400 causing the roots to rot. 300 200 Market risks. The main risk related to the market 100 is price volatility: The reference price for cassava starch, 0 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 which in turn determines prices throughout the supply Yams wholesale market Starch CODIPSA chain, is the international market (see graph 3.7). Inter- Yams CODIPSA Cotton export price national prices have shown great variability in the past Cotton wholesale market years and the main ones impacted have been farmers Source: Taken from Failde, A., Mondelli, M., Peixoto, C., “Insercion de la Agri- cultura Familiar en los Modelos de Gobernanza de las Cadenas Agroindustria- linked to the industry, given that the latter translates les. Cadena del Almidon de Mandioca en Paraguay.” CINVE, Uruguay, 2010. backwards the price variation from the cassava starch It was not posible to obtain updated data to expand the series. exports to the former. The prices paid by the industry for cassava and the starch prices, both the wholesale market and the prices offered GRAPH 3.8. CASSAVA PRICE by the industry, evolve jointly; the export price has an Monthly price variation for yams (Asuncion market) initial differentiated behavior, but as exported volumes 100% increase in the past years, the behavior has been similar 80% and evidently it is the one that determines the evolution 60% of other prices. The cassava price in the wholesale market 40% 20% has some differentiated variations, but in general the trend 0% throughout the year follows the evolution of the other –20% prices considered. –40% –60% The volatility in the domestic market is shown in graph 3.8, E-1998 E-1999 E-2000 E-2001 E-2002 E-2003 E-2004 E-2005 E-2006 E-2007 E-2008 E-2009 E-2010 E-2011 E-2012 where the monthly cassava price variations are presented for the Mercado de Asunción for a period of 15 years. Source: World Bank data based on data from MAG. 1-24 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment It shows maximum increases of up to 78 percent during Beyond family farmers, other relevant actors in the ses- the month of January 2012, of 58 percent for January ame supply chain are exporters and intermediaries. Pro- 2003, and 56 percent for February 1998, with sharp drops ducers sell their production to one of the few businesses of 78 percent in March–April 2001 and 40 percent in that store and export sesame seeds and in many cases the February 2012 and 38 percent in March 2002. But even intermediary figure appears, usually bringing services to without going to extremes, these sharp monthly variations the farmer, from planting to harvest. There are about 30 can cause important losses to farmers who decide to har- exporting firms, initially linked almost exclusively to four vest cassava given an important increase in prices, but that or five large Japanese sesame buyers, that have been diver- by the time the cassava reaches the wholesale market in sifying the export markets. Official technical assistance to Asunción, price have dropped. sesame farmers has been quite limited, as with research. The majority of technical assistance has been provided by The other market-related risk for the industrial sector is the storage and exporting firms, who also provide farmers the lack of cassava in the domestic market due to sales to Brazil. with seeds and have introduced new varieties. In some years when cassava production has dropped in Brazil and therefore domestic supply, prices in their inter- Production risks. The farmer organizations that were nal market have increased significantly and the price interviewed coincided in pointing out drought as the most wedge produced massive sales of fresh Paraguayan cas- severe risk which they face, being particularly serious in the sava toward Brazil. This has caused supply problems for years when the drought period (last weeks of December the raw material for the starch industry (as they were and first weeks in January) is accompanied by high tem- not able to compete in prices with Brazilian buyers) and peratures. In general, severe droughts occur every five also problems for the Paraguayan cassava consumers as years. Droughts affect the husk formation, reduce yields, domestic prices have increased. and produce significant production and income losses to farmers. Another weather-related risk is hail. This is a phe- Sesame. Sesame is a relatively new crop in Paraguay. nomena that occurs occasionally and in a localized way, It started in the ’90s with a private initiative, with the but when it happens it causes large losses and damage in Eastern Region being the main producer and promoter. the impacted area. It impacts the plant’s growth and can In the last years, production concentration seems to have also impact the harvest. Finally, excess rainfall can affect resided in San Pedro and Concepción, reaching more sesame after harvest, when it is put to dry and there is than 80 percent of planted area. More than 95 percent continuous rain over periods longer than two days. This of production is destined for export. By 2007 the country happened in 2011 in Concepción, but is very infrequent. was the sixth largest world exporter of sesame and one of the main suppliers to Japan, the most stringent market for Following in importance, after drought, is the occurrence this product. Is a crop that has been adopted quickly by of pests and diseases, a risk that has increased over the small producers as it is relatively easy to produce, with low past years. It impacts the plant during flowering and also costs and low labor requirement. According to the data during the formation of husks in the case of pests. The from the National Agriculture Census 2008, over 40,000 high or low humidity determines the incidence of differ- farms were cultivating 70,000 hectares of sesame (an ent diseases produced by fungus: in dry years macrophomina average of 1.7 hectares per farm), with a production of attacks and in wet years fusariosis. In general, rainfall and 50,000 tons. In following years, the crop continued grow- temperature conditions determine the severity of the pest ing, promoted by good export prices, reaching 100,000 and disease outbreaks every year. In very critical years pro- hectares planted. However, it was later reduced to 70–80 duction can decrease up to 50 percent if adequate meas- thousand hectares due to weather and sanitary problems, ures are not taken. The decrease in production impacts and with the lowering of international prices. The severe farmers, intermediaries, and exporters. drought of 2011–12 and disease outbreaks halted its recuperation: It is estimated that in the 2012–13 season Graph 3.9 shows the relationship between the large drops the area with sesame was 60,000 hectares (there are no in yields and the occurrence of adverse natural hazards official figures yet). (based on MAG data). Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-25 GRAPH 3.9. SESAME YIELDS (KG/HA) Market risks. The main market risk is price volatility. 1,400 Yield Kg/Ha Since sesame is an export product, it is exposed to inter- 1,200 Trend national price variations, which are hard to predict. Fur- Linear (yield Kg/Ha) thermore, traders transmit these variations to the farmers, 1,000 resulting in farm revenue losses when prices drop. See 800 Drought graph 3.10. 600 Intense drought, Strong variations are observed during the 2002–09 400 pests and diseases period, after which prices tend to stabilize. Farmer prices, Intense drought 200 y = –53.268x + 1112.7 and diseases however, show greater volatility than international prices. R2 = 0.5908 0 Enabling environment risks. The most important 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 enabling environment risk is the loss of exports due to Source: World Bank data based on data from MAG. quality issues, mainly due to the presence of agrochemical residues in higher concentrations than the ones allowed The realized risks that have cost the largest losses to the by export markets. This has occurred occasionally, the sesame supply chains are intense droughts and pest and last time in January 2013 with a batch going to Japan, diseases outbreaks. In the 2004/05 and 2011/12 sea- which is a very strict market with respect to maximum sons droughts powered the plant health problems. Yields residue content, and with lower tolerance levels than the decreased by 39 percent and 31 percent respectively in ones accepted globally. This risk impacts the exporting relation with the trend, and resulted in very important firm directly, and indirectly the image of the country for losses for the entire supply chain and in particular for buying markets. farmers. The extraordinary low yields of the last season (2011/12), about 330 kg/ha, was the lowest in the entire Cotton. Cotton has been historically an agriculture pro- series, with an intense drought and the development of duction component never to be missed in the family farm- diseases, and is an urgent plea for mitigating production ing sector in Paraguay. Data from the census indicates that risks. If not done, the crop can disappear as an attractive in 1981 there were 138,000 farms cultivating 243,000 hec- income option for family farmers. GRAPH 3.10. PRODUCER AND INTERNATIONAL PRICES IN GUARANIES AND US$, 1999–2009 G$/Kg US$/Kg 8.000 3,00 7.000 2,50 6.000 2,00 5.000 4.000 1,50 3.000 1,00 2.000 0,50 1.000 0 0,00 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Producer price Gs. 1.300 1.263 1.347 1.200 3.340 3.850 2.491 3.974 2.182 6.958 3.375 Producer price US$ 0.41 0,36 0,33 0,21 0,52 0,64 0,40 0,71 0,44 1,59 0,67 International price US$ 0,64 1,01 0,76 1,00 0,89 2,49 Source: World Bank data based on data from the Trade Directorate, MAG, and BCP. 1-26 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment tares, with a global production of 317,000 tons of cotton GRAPH 3.11. COTTON YIELD KG/HA on branches, in other words, a yield of 1,305 kg/ha. Ten 2,000 Yield Kg/Ha years later in 1991, its importance in terms of quantity had 1,800 Trend 1,600 increased, with 415,000 hectares in 190,000 farms and a Linear (Yield Kg/Ha) 1,400 total production of 632,000 tons and an average national 1,200 yield of 1,523 kg/ha. During those times, cotton was the 1,000 cash crop by excellence of the family farming system 800 throughout the country, complementing the use of land for 600 Drought 400 autoconsumption crops. During the growth period for the y = –13.837x + 1348.9 200 R2 = 0.2026 product, the country experienced an accelerated expan- 0 sion of installed capacity for textiles, with more than 30 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 textile plants being accounted at one point. Source: MAG/DCEA: Historical series of agriculture production and interviews. The low productive results, associated with drastic price variations of the internal price, progressively disincen- ties are reduced, impacting the households’ capacity to pay tivized farmers. In the 2006–07 season the government and reducing loan repayments from local input suppliers. decided to stop the practice of providing seeds and other inputs, causing the crop to virtually disappear from The second weather factor that has had an impact, the national production scene. The CAN 2008 regis- although localized, has been hail. Events were reported in tered a sharp decline in cotton, with only 54,000 farms 2004, 2006 and 2011. reporting the planting of 66,000 hectares. The follow- ing seasons (2008/09 and 2009/10) had very low levels, Pests. The main threat from plagues is by the picudo with 30,000 hectares and 18,000 tons in the first, and (beetle-like insect) which is present in the country since 13,700 hectares and 15,000 tons in the second. The fun- 1992. Since its introduction to the country three to five damental productive base, soils, currently degraded in years ago, it has caused a commotion that translated into, most part of the national territory, and the incidence of among other things, an exponential increase in the appli- weather and health hazards (see below), along with inter- cation of insecticides in cotton farms. The increase in national price volatility, causes one to think about long applications had a direct impact in the cost of produc- term combined strategies if a sustainable recovery of this tion of at least 100 percent. In the case of farms planted activity is to be achieved. with GMOs, the picudo continues to be the main threat in terms of pests. On the other hand, for farms planted Production risks. Weather. The large majority of peo- with traditional seeds, the insect is controlled more effec- ple interviewed have agreed that the impact of weather tively through early applications that are done to control factors have tended to increase over the past few years the hatching. Other pests like perillero, oruga, and lagarta for cotton. The water availability deficit in the soil is the most rosada are virtually prevented through the use of GMO important risk as it has been recurrent in the past years. seeds, but not for traditional varieties which need pesti- According to sources, cotton production faced hydrologi- cide treatment. Out of the three, the most severe is the cal deficit events in the 2002/03, 2005/06, and 2009 and lagarta, of which an outbreak was reported in 2008 with 2012 seasons. Out of all these events, the ones of 2009 an impact and damage of up to 60 percent of production. and 2012 were reported as particularly severe, producing, according to the interviewees, losses of more than 50 per- Market risk cent. See graph 3.11. International price volatility. The price of the fiber in inter- national markets tends to fluctuate permanently, with The events related to water deficit cause the abortion of important drops in 2004, 2008, and 2012. The refer- the flowers and the lack of fructification. Harvesting vol- ences obtained indicated that for all cases in the drop in umes decrease, and monetary flows towards the communi- international prices, this reduction is translated directly Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-27 GRAPH 3.12. COTTON: INTERNATIONAL (20 percent), Caaguazu (15 percent) and Cordillera (6 AND DOMESTIC PRICE percent). According to the interviews, the sugar cane 7,000 supply chain faces serious problems in terms of farms 6,000 International (degraded soils without adequate management prac- Domestic 5,000 tices, lack of introduction of new varieties, equipment 4,000 deficit for increasing efficiency of certain tasks like cut- 3,000 ting, peeling, loading and transport), as well as with 2,000 commercial practices being used (sales by volume and 1,000 not by the total sugar content). 0 The traditional way for organizing the productive supply ch ril ch ril ch ril ry ch Ap Ap Ap ua ar ar ar ar M M M M br chain is based on the formation of sugar cane producer Fe Source: (1) BCP, Economic Report. (2) MAG/Direccion de Comercializacion, organizations, representing farmers in the negotiations Price table at the level of industries and cooperatives. with industry about prices, reception and delivery of prod- uct, and so forth; and in some experiences the associations to farmers, contributing to the depression of incomes have moved further in the acquisition and management of of family farms. See graph 3.12 showing evidence of agriculture machinery for the provision of services to their the transmission of international prices to the domestic members. There is a cooperative management model that market. is relatively recent in its evolution and that was noted to be favorable to growth prospects. Exchange rate variability. The appreciation of the guarani in recent years, as well as the permanent price variations, has Production risks. The main production risk is the a negative impact in the possibility of the local industry weather factor, which in some years has impacted yields to compete in international markets, and also introduces significantly. Hydrological deficit due to prolonged absence of an uncertainty at all levels of the supply chain. In the last rainfall and/or bad distribution of them, has been referred to four years (2009/2012) the appreciation rate of the gua- the one with the most impact over production in recent rani with respect to the dollar was of 7 percent in 2009, years. The most severe years were 2000–01, 2005–06, 2.2 percent in 2010, 4.3 percent in 2011 and 7 percent in 2009, and 2012, with the first one producing losses of up 2012. The exchange rate has a direct impact in the price to 70 percent of yields, while the others producing reduc- formation to producers. tions between 20–30 percent. Beyond direct losses to pro- duction, damages were transmitted through the supply Sugar cane (family farming).14 On the side of the chain, reducing seasonal labor, delaying loan repayments use of resources, sugar cane production destined for the (default) and the processing of new requests, and reducing industry (CAN 2008) involved a total of 20,551 farms, the capacity of industries to meet their contractual obliga- with a planted surface of 82,000 hectares and a physical tions due to lack of raw material. production of 5 million tons. Out of the total number of farms dedicated to sugar cane production for indus- The occurrence of frosts has constituted another weather try, 87 percent had less than 20 hectares, and 96 per- variable that has impacted sugar cane production, pro- cent had less than 50 hectares. In terms of production, ducing losses. The references obtained in the production the farms with less than 50 hectares planted 55 per- areas indicate that frosts happened in 2008 and 2009 cent of the total area and contributed with 52 percent (with the latter having frost and drought associated), and of total production in 2008. With respect to the geo- 2011–12 when losses are estimated between 20 and 25 graphic distribution, the farms were localized mainly percent. in the departments of Guaira (38 percent), Paraguari Graph 3.13 shows the evolution of yields associated with 14 The assessment focused on organic sugar cane. weather events that have produced production losses. 1-28 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment GRAPH 3.13. SUGAR CANE YIELDS The small producers do not appear to be coordinated in 70,000 Rendimiento Kg/Ha an inclusive way with the soy supply chain, be it because Trend 60,000 Linear (Rendimiento Kg/Ha) the current soy production is at a technological level 50,000 beyond their economic reach or be it because they par- Drought and frost ticipate marginally in the trade mechanisms of medium 40,000 Drought Drought Drought to larger farmers through cooperatives and local inter- 30,000 mediaries, without being able to benefit extensively from 20,000 current good market conditions nor the risk transfer 10,000 y = 29.002x + 47124 mechanisms that other actors in the supply chain benefit R2 = 0.0031 0 from. Therefore, the rental of land is an ever increasing 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 factor among small farmers, who ensure an interesting Source: MAG. monetary income (1 to 2 million guaranties per hectare are being paid) at the same time that agriculture risks are eliminated. Market risks When small producers are inserted into the supply chain, Price. During the assessment the organic sugar market the industrial market is often closed to them. Eventu- was analyzed, which is relatively important for Paraguay. ally, productive conditions can be generated with a focus According to the interviews with actors of the organic towards alternative markets, like soy milk, soy yogurt, soy sugar can supply chain, the business had been developed cheese, and other niche products for exports. However, in the country on the basis of the sale of the product access to these markets requires a specific policy, in par- in certain niche markets, mainly the United States. The allel to soy production and industrialization, coordinat- price formation of organic sugar had been originally ing with the other international commercial actors (fair maintained in a differentiated fashion from traditional trade, vegan product trade, biodanamic producer trade, sugar, avoiding the transmission of international price for example). volatility into the price of organic sugar. However, as time passed, the price formation mechanisms have Production risk. Drought is the most critical risk faced tended to converge with the traditional sugar cane mar- by small soy producers and cooperatives that group ket, increasing the price uncertainty for Paraguayan them. Be it due to low technological levels that domi- farmers. The current 2013 season finds the international nate their production methods, to their dependency on market with an abundance of sugar, with a significant the mechanisms of the structure markets for medium to downward pressure on prices, with massive influx of large producers with economies of scale and insurance, sugar from Argentina and Brazil (contraband), and at or to the lack of financial capital or access to long term the same time with a relative oversupply of sugar cane credit to face significant production losses, family farm- in the local market. The result of this interrelationship ers are very vulnerable to drought and other weather of forces has produced significant delays in the 2013 sea- events. According to interviews with producers, drought son due to the lack of agreement on a price for the raw hits every three to five years. The most remembered material, and with the subsequent loss for organic sugar years are 2009 and 2011. Losses in the last one was more farmers. than 50 percent. Soy (family farming). According to data from CAN Pests and diseases, in particular soy rust, which is related to 2008, 72 percent of soy farmers have less than 50 hectares excess humidity, and the army work, is an important risk (20,000 farmers) but their contribution to national pro- for farmers. This is due in part to the potential for produc- duction is only 6 percent. In some cases it is small produc- ing losses, but also due to the high costs that are involved ers that plant the crop and in others, family farmers rent in controlling them. The risk and costs increase in light of out the land to medium to large farmers. the lack of technical assistance. Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-29 GRAPH 3.14. EXCHANGE RATE EVOLUTION Guarani in relation to the US$ 5,100 4,900 4,700 4,500 4,300 4,100 3,900 3,700 39980 40016 40052 40088 40124 40160 40196 40232 40268 40304 40340 40376 40412 40448 40484 40520 40556 40592 40628 40664 40700 40736 40772 40808 40844 40880 40916 40952 40988 41024 41060 41096 41132 41168 41204 41240 41276 41312 41348 Source: Central Bank of Paraguay (BCP). Empiric evidence on drought and other production risks to neighbor countries. For these products, as it happens are shown in the section on commercial agriculture soy with other products of family farming, the dominant pro- production. ductive system is the one that combines agriculture and livestock activities for own consumption. However, the Market risk. Price volatility and exchange rate. Price risks number of farms that are developing specialized systems are similarly to those faced by commercial farmers, for accessing markets is increasing. although family farmers do not have access to the means nor the scale to purchase financial hedges. But given the According to CAN 2008, out of the total commercial high level of soy prices, price variability does not have a farms, 94 percent were farms with less than 20 hectares. great impact today. The exchange rate appreciation risk The departments with the highest concentration are between the moment of buying inputs for production and Caaguazu (36 percent), Central (27 percent), Paraguari selling of the product can be a problem for both farmers (6 percent), and San Pedro (6 percent). With respect to and cooperatives. In the case of cooperatives the largest the main vegetable products, CAN 2008 registered 3,711 risk is with recovering loans for the purchasing of inputs farms with tomatoes, 1,681 with locote, 749 with carrot, by members. See graph 3.14 with information about the among the ones with most frequency. The average yield daily quote of the guarani with respect to the dollar since for tomato and locote increased at least 42 percent and June 2009. 79 percent respectively during the 1981–2008 period, showing a clear lead over the performance of other fam- In summary, without appropriate technologies and with- ily farming products. out the means to transfer risks, soy production is not very viable for small producers. Costs are quite high and the For the trade of these products, some cooperatives and risks to large. other organizations like chambers and associations have put stands in the main wholesale markets in the capital Vegetables. Vegetables and fruits make up a family of city, alternating its deliveries with other options like selling products that are expanding in Paraguay, although for to intermediaries and supermarkets. now are almost all destined for domestic consumption. The exception is a few fruits like banana that are exported Production risks. Weather. The main weather hazards fresh to regional markets, and some derivatives of con- that impact or put at risk the regular performance of veg- centrated juice and ready to drink juices that are exported etable production include excess humidity, drought, and frosts, 1-30 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment GRAPH 3.15. TOMATO YIELDS production seasonality. This can benefit the consumers, 60,000 but it is a problem for farmers, who have difficulties plac- ing their products in the market. 50,000 40,000 y = 575.65x + 20904 THE PRICE VOLATILITY 30,000 PROBLEM: THE CASE OF 20,000 MAIZE 10,000 Although price volatility is not foreign to the operation of agriculture markets, it is not free of consequences. In fact, it has a negative impact on the economy and house- 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 holds of family farming and in the decision to produce Trend Drought Yield Kg/Ha Drought and frost Linear (Yield Kg/Ha) cash crops. The problem is, to a certain extent, to be felt Source: World Bank data based on MAG. with less intensity, while the increasing trend in interna- tional commodity prices has been high and sustained, but the reversal of that trend, or the increase in the price of according to interviews and data collected during field inputs, or the appreciation of the exchange rate, or other visits. Although here tomato was taken as reference, the factors, could make the medium term price volatility events have an impact in the entire vegetable production. problem even worse. See graph 3.15. In this section we present the results of the maize volatility The high probability of drought (high temperature analysis, using the Farmer Market Information System/ and intense evapotranspiration) between the second Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Paraguay data half of November, December, and January makes it for the Asunción Market and DAMA for the 1993–2012 practically impossible at present to plant products like period. See appendix B with the details of the analysis. tomatoes and other vegetables in open air, as it was possible 25 years ago. The impact of risks has been In Paraguay, white maize is planted mainly for human felt during 2003–06 and 2010–12. In terms of relative consumption and produced mainly for family farming while excess air humidity and rainfall which always occur, red maize (yellow), which is typically an export product they cause problems (mainly delays in the vegetative for animal and agroindustry consumption, is cultivated development, incidence of pests and diseases, reduced by commercial farmers. Family farming producers plant production), although not being able to become the white maize for autoconsumption and for sale in order to main hazard. The time with the most frequency is have access to cash. They also plant some red maize for between the months of February and April. Frosts animal feed, although no information was found about are annual events, with a probability of reaching its the proportion with respect to white maize. Normally, the maximum level during the second half of June and sale is local, so the price that makes it to family farmers is beginning of August. Damages could be total when quite lower than the wholesale price at Mercado de Asun- there is a lack of infrastructure. According to refer- ción and using this assessment. ences, severe damages due to frosts were recorded in 1999 and 2011–12, the period in which losses were The following conclusions were drawn. The domestic price estimated between 30–40 percent. of maize according to DAMA, in theory representative of the behavior of other national markets, presents a Market risks. Oversupply of the market. With some fre- very high volatility in the short term, which cannot be quency the extraordinary entrance of products from explained entirely by seasonal variations nor responds to neighboring countries occurs motivated by the exchange changes in the general price levels from the economy as a rate differential (tomatoes) and other reasons, like the whole. Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-31 However, differences in behavior exist between white and It is likely that the main cause for interannual volatility yellow maize to the detriment of the former. Family farm- (short term) of prices is found in the yield variations of ing producers (white maize) suffer from larger price vola- weather events, but could be other factors impacting, tility and benefit less from international price increases like contraband or other enabling environment con- than the commercial farmers, who produce yellow maize text. Therefore, the impact would depend in the market for exports for agroindustry. risk management opportunities of the different actors throughout the supply chain(s). 1-32 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment CHAPTER FOUR PRODUCTION LOSS QUANTIFICATION Agriculture risks are inherent to the nature of Paraguay, and, as seen in chapter 3, Paraguay is exposed in an important way to production, market, and enabling envi- ronment risks. If one also takes into account that agriculture is a key sector for the Paraguayan economy (chapter 2), it is evident that the occurrence of risk events have important impacts on economic growth, public financing, supply chains, domestic markets, and food security of the vulnerable households. In particular, agriculture sec- tor risks in Paraguay are susceptible to have an impact: i. At the macroeconomic level, reducing exports and reducing economic growth in the short run. ii. At the government level, reducing tax collection and increasing public expen- ditures to respond to compensatory measures for impacted population from drought and other disasters. iii. In relation to the actors in the supply chain (intermediaries, exporters, co- operatives, producers, and so forth). It increases production costs (market risks), reducing profitability and producing losses, increasing indebtedness and reducing investments, even identifying market access. iv. In relation to the domestic market, food supply disruptions. v. In relation to the rural poor households affected by the domestic economy and putting at risk food security. All of these impacts are susceptible of being estimated. MACROECONOMIC IMPACTS Changes in gross aggregate value (VAB) of the agriculture sector have not been homo- geneous during the past years due to the incidence of weather, sanitary, and other hazards. The agriculture and livestock behavior has been quite different reflecting the different type of risks faced by one and the other (see graph 4.1). At any rate, the agriculture sector is key for the performance of the overall economy. In the country report from the IMF (2011) it reads: “. . . although Paraguay has registered important economic swings in the past 50 years, strong and persistent contractions of the total product have been relatively rare. In fact, the largest drop in GDP in half a Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-33 GRAPH 4.1. VARIATION IN THE GROSS TABLE 4.1. PROJECTIONS OF TOTAL AGRICULTURE VALUE AND AGRICULTURE SECTOR 50% Agriculture ECONOMIC GROWTH 40% Livestock Total GDP Variation ( percent) 30% * Preliminary figures 20% First Quarter First Quarter 10% 2012 (Annual) 2013 (Annual) 0% Total GDP –3 14.8 –10% Non-Agriculture 3.9 10.1 –20% GDP –30% Agriculture –28.5 47.4 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009* 2010* Livestock –3.8 10.8 Source: MAG. Source: BCP. century was in 2009 (3.8 percent) after the severe drought that impacted the agriculture sector and in a context of day more erratic and that requires increased mitigation averting a global crisis. However, the contracting period actions; and two that the economic importance of soy and turned into recovery quickly with the greatest harvest of livestock are such that they have become a key aspect of all times in 2010, contributing in a substantial manner to an agriculture risk management strategy. a record GDP growth of 15 percent”.15 In the same year of the IMF 2011 report, another drought occurred, causing large losses in the agriculture sector, ESTIMATING HISTORICAL which was followed in 2012 with a soy bumper crop. LOSSES OF SUPPLY CHAINS Also, in 2011 an FMD outbreak occurred (referred to in Table 4.2 show estimated losses throughout the supply chapter 3), with large consequences for meat exports and chains as a result of the occurrence of production risks: the loss of the Chilean market. This situation was rees- Totals are in tons and guaranis and annual averages in tablished throughout 2012 and 2013. See table 4.1 with guaranis and dollars. The crops that registered the highest the BCP projections about the economic growth of the values in terms of losses per year are soy, cassava, maize, agriculture and livestock sectors for the first quarter of and cotton, followed by wheat, sugar cane, and rice. 2012 and 2013, registering weather problems in the first one and sanitary ones in 2011, and in the second the good The average annual losses $237 million or 5.4 percent of performance in 2012. agriculture GDP (8 percent of crop GDP only) are signifi- cant. But they are even more significant if one considers Based on this evidence, it is clear that production risks that that 5.4 percent of gross value of production repre- for soy and other crops from the soy cluster and livestock sents more than half a percentage point of annual eco- have great importance in relation to the overall economic nomic growth each year.16 This is an important drag for growth and stability of Paraguay. A significant drop in the national economy, considering that they do not take production and soy exports have a notable impact in the into account livestock losses. global economic activity and aggregate demand, and with that public finances due to the reduced tax collec- Furthermore, if recent years are analyzed when large tion. This recent occurrence of bad and good years sug- natural disasters have occurred (drought, FMD, and so gest two things: one that the weather behavior is every 16 Calculation made based on an estimate from VAB/gross value of production (VBP) for the 60 percent of agriculture and a contribution to total GDP of 15 IMF, Country Report No. 11/239. Paraguay: Consulta del Articulo IV cor- agriculture of 16–20 percent based on production and price data from MAG respondiente a 2011, Agosto 2011. and national accounts from BCP. 1-34 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment TABLE 4.2. LOSSES IN TONS, GS$ AND US$ PER CROP Volume Total Value Annual Annual of Losses of Losses Average Losses Average Losses (% of Crop Period (Tons)A (Million G$) (Million G$)B Losses (US$)C Ag GDP) Garlic 1990–2011 742 10,053 457 103,850 0.002% Cotton 1990–2011 430,232 774,418 35,201 8,000,188 0.18% Irrigated Rice 1990–2011 145,829 471,173 21,417 4,867,490 0.11% Dryland Rice 1990–2011 15,796 51,036 2,320 527,230 0.01% Sugar Cane 1990–2011 3,483,029 618,238 28,102 6,386,752 0.15% Canola 2007–2011 5,498 9,435 1,887 428,855 0.01% Onion 1990–2011 7,970 13,903 632 143,621 0.00% Locote 1990–2011 8,260 51,624 2,347 533,310 0.01% Maize 1990–2011 1,201,903 1,603,011 72,864 16,560,028 0.38% Yams 1990–2011 2,495,542 1,629,589 74,072 16,834,596 0.38% Beans 1990–2011 59,091 184,186 8,372 1,902,744 0.04% Sesame 2000–2011 39,653 176,980 14,748 3,351,902 0.08% Soy 1990–2011 7,897,436 14,789,291 672,241 152,781,932 3.48% Tomato 1990–2011 52,868 171,161 7,780 1,768,191 0.04% Wheat 1990–2011 684,782 637,532 28,979 6,586,075 0.15% Carrot 1990–2011 19,827 3,470 158 35,844 0.00% Total 21,195,098 971,575 220,812,608 5.02% Source: MAG and BCP. A Physical losses are calculated as the difference between real yields and trend values of the years when the real value is below 30 percent of the trend, multiplied by the area in that same year. B For estimating the value in G$, average prices for 2010–12 were used. Agriculture VAB was used from 2011 at current prices. C The exchange rate used was for the year 2012 to estimate losses in US$. forth) producing large losses, the impact in the economy 1990–2011 period of 78,950 tons.17 125,934 tons in 1999– as a whole and in the farmer’s economy, traders, industry, 00, 117,382 tons in 2007–08 and 632,435 in 2011–12. and so on have been of enormous proportions. In 2011, Physical losses in 2011–12 represented 25 percent of US$920 million were lost only in soy. This production the production of a normal year. In relation to cotton, drop in soy produced a loss of several percentage points the annual production loss for the period 1990–2011 in the total GDP, as seen above. was estimated around 19,556 tons of cotton in branch, valued at $8 million. But if the losses of the worst years Also in 2011, due to drought, family farming incurred are observed, we obtain magnitudes like: 35,284 tons the following losses: cassava, $94 million or 385 of VBP; in 2000–01, 51,463 tons in 2001–02, 20,949 tons in sesame, $13 million or 46 percent of VBP; and cotton, 2002–03 and 49,453 tons in 2005–06, with clear impacts $3 million or 26 percent of VBP. Given the importance between small producers and the rest of the supply chain. of cassava for food security and the domestic economy of This increase in the production losses due to risks is part rural households, these numbers do not express the over- of the explanation for the abrupt reduction in cotton pro- all social gravity of the problem. duction in Paraguay. In respect to as cassava, losses in the past drought 17 Result from dividing total losses from 1990–2011 period (2,495,542 tons) by years have been well above the annual average for the the number of years (22). Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-35 FIGURE 4.1. AVERAGE DEPARTMENTAL LOSSES Source: Author’s calculations based on MAG data. depends on the size of production, but also on the risk PRODUCTION VARIABILITY exposure (or variation of production due to weather, sani- AND REGIONAL AND tation, and so forth) observed in the different areas and RURAL FOOD SECURITY departments of the country. In order to show this situa- IMPLICATIONS tion, maize was analyzed given that it is planted through- out the country, given its economic importance after soy, There is a regional estimate for losses that coincide with and given that is a product of family and commercial the major production supply chains (soy, maize, wheat) farming.18 As a measure of production risk exposure the and with cassava, which is the most common crop coefficient of variation19 of departmental yields as taken among the majority of family farmers. The departments with the largest losses in value have been Alto Parana and then Canindeyu, Itapua, Caaguazu, and San Pedro 18 In fact, no data was found, allowing to disaggregate production among the (see figure 4.1), which are also the ones with the largest different types of maize in Paraguay, white and yellow. planted land. 19 The coefficient of variation measures the relationship between the variabil- ity of the variable (standard deviation) and the size of the arithmetic average; expressed usually as a percentage. A greater value of the coefficient of variation The geographic dimension to production varia- greater heterogeneity is present in the values of the variable and the smaller the tion. The difference between losses among departments coefficient of variation the more homogeneous are the values of the variable. 1-36 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment TABLE 4.3. MAIZE: LOSSES AND COEFFICIENT OF VARIATION Maize Production per Region, Annual Average Coefficient of Variation of Regions Average 2009–10 to 2011–12 (Tons) Losses (Tons) Yields—Volatility Concepción 30,255 1,914 31.99% San Pedro 4,72,767 10,398 35.74% Guaira 34,956 1,811 37.45% Caaguazú 3,62,606 10,491 34.12% Caazapá 1,28,746 3,488 27.50% Itapúa 3,38,761 7,470 31.19% Misiones 30,306 1,687 38.46% Paraguarí 30,105 2,456 42.40% Alto Paraná 8,52,941 15,924 23.12% Amambay 1,10,130 2,209 32.24% Canindeyú 7,70,276 9,894 25.63% Total 28.90% Source: World Bank data based on data from MAG and STP/DGEEC. Note: Departments with marginal maize producers were excluded. where maize is relatively important. In table 4.3 the results GRAPH 4.2. PRODUCTION OF FOOD CROPS are shown. Yams production (tons) 1,200,000 The result is that the yield volatility differences are not 1,000,000 drastic among the different departments, with a mini- 800,000 mum and maximum of 23 percent and 42 percent. But 600,00 the departments of Alto Parana and Canindeyu, which 400,000 are by far the most important producers of maize and 200,000 have the highest yields in the country, show the lowest 0 coefficients of variation than the other departments, 1990/91 1991/92 1992/93 1993/94 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 mainly due to improved technologies and risk manage- ment practices. On the other hand, the department Beans production (tons) with the least production (Paraguari) shows the highest 16,000 yield volatility (42.4 percent), followed by other depart- 14,000 ments with low maize production (Misiones and Guaira). 12,000 Departments with intermediary production (San Pedro 10,000 and Concepción) also show a great degree of volatility 8,000 (given their location in areas with less rainfall than the 6,000 Eastern departments). 4,000 2,000 Variability and rural food security. Also basic 0 1990/91 1991/92 1992/93 1993/94 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 food availability for rural households of family farming, mainly cassava and beans, register an important vari- ability throughout the last 20 years. This can be seen in Source: MAG. Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-37 TABLE 4.4. COEFFICIENT OF VARIATION graph 4.2, showing the production in the departments IN REGIONAL PRODUCTION OF with the highest concentration of family farms. Taking production as an indicator of food availability20 and con- BEANS AND CASSAVA sidering that the overall consumption comes from their Coeficient of Production own production, variability in production impacts family Variation 2010–11 (Tons) consumption directly. Yams San Pedro 40% 474,981 The value of the coefficient of variation changes from Cordillera 43% 61,140 department to department (see table 4.4), showing differ- Guaira 29% 124,212 ences in climate, capacity to manage risks, and so forth, Caaguazú 30% 449,706 although the average is about 34–35 percent and in no Caazapá 33% 227,106 case is below 23 percent with spikes in Cordillera for Paraguarí 37% 134,930 beans and cassava, and in San Pedro for cassava. Beans San Pedro 31% 6,062 Cordillera 51% 2,780 Guaira 36% 3,147 Caaguazú 23% 10,891 Caazapá 33% 4,455 Paraguarí 31% 5,262 20 These are products with no or little trade with external parties, and post- harvest losses and other uses outside human consumption are relatively constant year after year. 1-38 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment CHAPTER FIVE IMPACT OF RISKS ALONG THE SUPPLY CHAINS Risks have differentiated impacts on supply chain actors, depending on the severity of the event due to the risk exposure of each one of them and due to their initial capacity to manage risks with mitigation, transfer, and absorption strategies. Throughout this chapter findings are presented about how impact of the different risks are distributed to farmers and other supply chain actors and what are the management strategies that are used for the most common risks. Finally, relationships are established between vulnerability and exposure/risk management. PRODUCTION RISK MANAGEMENT AND IMPACT ACCORDING TO THE ACTORS OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN Soy. As was seen in chapter 3, the most important risk for commercial farmers in Paraguay are the drops in yields due to summer droughts with high temperatures. The impacts vary according to actors. The supply chain participants that are more affected are the farmers given that as production and income decrease significantly, their indebtedness increases and their capacity to invest is reduced. These circumstances can be catastrophic if two consecutive years of drought are recorded. In general, in a drought farmers can refinance their loans with suppliers or with the banks; usually that involves increases of 2 to 3 interest rate percentage points in dollars, although in some cases where farmers are integrated to cooperatives, the latter finance them at the same rates. The rest of the actors in the supply chain are affected by a reduction in their activities (less transport, intermediation volume and services, less industrial pro- cessing and exports), which translates in higher unit costs and a higher indebtedness level, with the exception of some firms that have international financing. All of this limits investments when the growth in grain production is facing bottlenecks linked to services and infrastructure. Maize. The impacts of early frosts and summer droughts in the various supply chain actors are similar to soy, but in a smaller order of magnitude in percentage terms Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-39 and for farmers, given that the weight of maize in total see a reduction. Also, floods for small herders could be farm income is less than soy. For farmers, this involves a severe, although their concentration is less in the Chaco reduction in income, increasing debt, and less investment region where flood is more common. FMD is a severe opportunities. For the rest of the supply chain actors, this problem for the entire supply chain and this requires a means a reduction in activity, higher unitary costs, and strict surveillance from authorities. indebtedness. In these cases, the risk of quality reduction and limitation for selling these grains increases during Family farming. Drought at the level of family farms, frost years. The maize bioethanol industry can contrib- when it’s extreme and causes significant crop damage, can ute to mitigate this risk in the future. The biotic factors have severe impacts on the economy of farmers, making impacting soy also impact maize and their impact are them reach unsustainable levels of debt, to the point of similar, mainly reflected by cost increases and lower unit leaving them out of the market and forcing them to sell margins for farmers, due to the increase in the number of or rent land. This is due to their initial low level of cap- treatments needed in some years. ital, the high financing costs to which they have access, the high transaction costs given their small scale, and the Wheat. In general, it can be said that greater yield stabil- almost virtual absence of long-term financing that allows ity is observed in the last decade and the relatively lower them to recover productive activities after an economic importance of the crop in farmer income, leads to affirm shock due to drought. For the farmer cooperatives (where that the impact of risks at the level of farmers and other many small soy farmers participate), drought means an supply chain actors is lower than in soy and maize. increase in the unitary cost and difficulties in recovering loans and increases in default rates. Rice. Enabling environment risks for rice worry farmers as well as service providers, processors, and exporters. In In terms of the processing/exporting firms, they are order to overcome the problem of the use of seeds without impacted in a different way. For the sesame exporters, the the necessary rights, some large producers are negotiating loss of part of the production (be it due to drought or with a seed supplier from Uruguay to develop a new variety pests and diseases) generates monetary losses due to the over which they will have the rights. Small farmers, who financing provided to intermediaries and the inability of have less water conservation infrastructure and storage and suppliers to meet their export contracts. must rent harvesting equipment, are especially exposed to droughts when they are extreme, which could leave them In the case of cassava, the reduction in production due to out of the market. In order to mitigate this risk they tend drought causes the reduction in the supply to the starch to plant early, in September, and harvest early in January. processing industry, which increases the exposure to inter- Pests and diseases tend to be controlled, but at the level of mediary financial institutions that finance cassava farmers small farmers, it is only efficient when they are organized that sell to the industry. and can use their resources collectively (for example with With respect to cotton, whose production risks are par- air fumigation), otherwise costs are prohibitively high. tially mitigated with the introduction of GMOs, it is to be noted that the tolerance of the material does not reach Livestock. Drought produces a series of impacts in the the picudo, so the farmer has to have a timely control of farmers’ and meat industry’s supply chain. At the level of the insect. Therefore, the monitoring of pests and diseases farmers, a reduction in pastures impacts the production and timely detection are the main tools for mitigation. costs and reduces the profitability given that they have to sell the animals with less weight and in extreme cases, they lose animals. For small herders, drought is a major risk, RISK MANAGEMENT given that their subsistence depends on their own milk It could be affirmed that part of the variations in pro- and sometimes meat consumption. The industrial and duction and losses faced by farmers and other actors of export activity suffer from the availability of cattle with the supply chain, in particular family farming, but not less weight and in extreme cases the supply of cattle can exclusively, are the results of non-mitigated risks. In other 1-40 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment words, these risks could be managed with adequate farm- GRAPH 5.1. PRICE OF SOY FROM ing practices, with infrastructure investments, and accu- ANTICIPATED SALES rate and timely information. Better public research and 550 October - Contract May extension services can make a significant difference, given April - Contract May that there is a serious technological problem due to the 500 absence of R&D. Lastly, there is little use of insurance, US$/ton 450 which in general is considered expensive by farmers, and is not considered a massive risk transfer instrument. 400 350 In general, the main weather risks (like drought) are only partially mitigated with appropriate practices (such as short 300 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 cycle sesame varieties, early planting for sesame, cotton and Source: Chicago Board of Trade. soy), so the majority of family farmers who do not use these practices have tended to absorb these losses in the long run, reducing their disposable income, impacting their ability to Commissions (CSA), composed of representatives from the make investments. The development of irrigation, which public and private sectors. The basic structure of the anti- could be considered a good alternative to mitigate drought FMD vaccination system is the following: SENACSA— risk, is conditioned by the energy supply uncertainty and an CSA—Technical Coordinators—Auditors—Vaccinators. ambiguous water use regulatory framework. The audit is done to 100 percent of the farms with more than 100 heads, and for the ones with less than 100 heads it In organic sugar cane production, farmers facing weather is up to authorized vaccinators to follow up. One difficulty risks adopt mitigation strategies such as diversification, that has persisted is the lack of updated data availability including mainly autoconsumption crops and in some cases about the cattle population based on a census, although cash crops like vegetables, which offer short-cycle advan- annual estimates are quite close to reality. tages. Between the members of the Furit-Horticola Cham- ber of Paraguay, around 20 percent of the 1,000 members With respect to risk management of price volatility, it was have irrigation equipment and about 80 percent has half- observed a limited use of futures (basically only available shade cover systems. Both practices contribute to mitigate for commercial farming) and a limited to no availability water deficit and prolonged levels of sunshine. Green- of market information. This lack of transparency leads to houses, as a valid instrument for mitigating frost and hail, high transaction costs and a larger incidence of risks (pro- are only used by 10 percent of members. Hail is also miti- duction risks as well as market risks) which impact those gated with half-shade meshes as long as wind is not a factor. actors with less market power, farmers. Pest and disease risk in agriculture is mitigated to a large The ones with capacity to purchase coverage and choose extent by all farmers, even family farmers, with pesticides. selling periods have the advantage to limit their exposure Although it is to be noted that for family farms these to price variations, especially to relative input-output tend to be less and with higher costs than in technology- prices for each season. See appendix C on soy risk trans- intensive commercial farms. Furthermore, the more fer. The absence of a good weather forecasting system technology-oriented farmers are conscious of the impor- and market information is a weakness for all crops. tance of crop rotation in order to reduce diseases. Without a doubt, small farmers are the ones with have less In livestock, drought risk is mitigated with pasture reserves, capacity to transfer risks through futures. Large coopera- feed storage, and reservoirs and Australian tanks to pre- tives, exporters, and so forth, however, can cover them- vent the lack of water. With respect to FMD, the mitigation selves much better to international price volatility. See technique that is more effective is the vaccination of ani- graph 5.1 comparing soy futures for October contracts, mals. Vaccinations are undertaken by the Animal Health around planting, and April, just before harvest. The ones Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-41 TABLE 5.1. SUMMARY OF THE MAIN RISK MANAGEMENT PRACTICES Risks Mitigation Transfer Absorption Comments Production Crop diversification Refinancing of inputs Investment reduction Low irrigation R&D, Drought Cycle of varieties Agriculture insurance Increasing indebtedness bureaucratic problems for irrigation permits, Respecting the planting Bankruptcy or sale of problems with regular window assets energy supply Crop management Sale of rental of land Low R&D on local Irrigation by pivot Off-farm labor agronomic topics (commercial farming) Pasture reserves, feed storage, water storage, and so on (livestock) Production Chemical applications Sanitary Problems Crop rotation Vaccination (FMD) Market Farmers can sell futures and Only part of the risk Farmer margins are Lack of training and Prices options to hedge relative is transferred to the reduced information prices brokers in Chicago Investments are reduced Lack of monthly price Cooperatives and exporters and supply and demand hedge prices information Joint sale and storage of harvest (AF) who do a previous hedge can achieve significant reduc- the reduction of profit margins or borrowing in extreme tions in price volatility. circumstances. In isolated cases in the past years, the government has absorbed risks by farmers providing com- Family farmers have little means available to mitigate pensation or condoning bank loans. price volatility. Some interviewed producers mentioned that they had tried to defend the sales price as a group or In table 5.1 the main risks and management practices storing the crop waiting for prices to come back up. The used by the different actors are summarized according to usual way for cassava farmers that sell to the industry for the field visits. protecting themselves against drops in the international starch price is the sale of fresh cassava. Farmers who supply the starch industry have been reticent to adopt- VULNERABILITY SPOTS ing varieties more in line with industry demands, with a The capacity to overcome and adapt after a shock, going higher dry material content, and cultivate in turn cassava back to the ex-ante situation, is known as resilience, and its with a double purpose: direct consumption in fresh and opposite is vulnerability.21 This section focus on the main for industry. This allows farmers to sell to the fresh mar- factors that determine the vulnerability towards these risks. ket if prices are better, or on the contrary to industrial Paraguay has a great portion of its population residing in production. rural areas (41 percent) and the majority of the poverty of Paraguay is in rural areas; almost half of the rural popula- With respect to risk absorption by family farmers, inter- tion is poor (1.2 million people with 787,000 in extreme viewed producers mentioned the main practices used poverty). But the vulnerability situation is not the same according to losses are refinancing of loans, savings, ani- mal sale, out-of-farm labor, land sale, and migration. In 21 Resilience is a term originally from ecology that has been applied in the last the case of exporters, the absorption mechanisms are decades in relation to humans and communities. 1-42 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment BOX 5.1. PUBLIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION SERVICES The Agriculture and Livestock Extension Service (DEAg) agriculture sector in Paraguay. The source of innovation in of MAG began operating in January 1953 with five local the past years has been based in the importing of technolo- agencies. In 1967 it had two local well-equipped offices gies originating from Brazil and to a lesser extent, Argentina, and a well-trained staff. The structure of these agencies, with mixed results. Only in 2010 the Paraguayan Institute although small, allowed for a satisfactory extension perfor- of Agriculture Technology (IPTA) was created as an autono- mance of the area being covered. In the ’80s, the DEAg mous agency of a private-public nature, destined to capture begun the Small Farmer Technology Project, with the tech- private and public funds, and expected to establish a technol- nical and financial cooperation of the United States Agency ogy stock for the country. IPTA is inheriting the Agriculture for International Development (USAID). The project was Research Directorate (DIA), created through a restructuring successful due to extensionists being dedicated almost of MAG in 1994, and which also led to the creation of the exclusively to extension activities and having enough and Agriculture and Forest Research and Extension Directorate. timely operating resources available. Another successful IPTA has a total of two experimental units (three research experience was the Joint Action Program, executed by the centers and nine agriculture and livestock field laboratories), National Development Bank (BNF). Through this program with research programs and support services distributed at technical and financial services were offered to farmers in a the national level and which need to be optimized on one coordinated fashion. hand and strengthened with construction and laboratory equipment on the other. It has 544 staff, out of which 151 Starting in the ’90s, a process of decay of the services of have university degrees, 18 with masters and five with doc- DEAg begun, in part due to: lack of resources for field opera- torates, with only 75 being agronomists and 38 agriculture tions, drainage of extensionists towards the private sector, technicians dedicated exclusive to knowledge management. and academia, constant reduction in training activities, and IPTA’s budget during its first year was $7.3 million and for the technical updating of staff, and so forth. With the approval of current year is $9.3 million. the new organizational chart of MAG in 1992, DEAg was left as a part of the Agriculture Viceministry. In the 2000s, a new The R&D process can be seen in the following way (Stads and restructuring of DEAg, mainly at the field level, created the Santander 2008):1 Agriculture Development Centers (CDA), looking for coor- dination between the departments and municipalities. The • The total agriculture R&D capacity shrunk consider- weaknesses of DEAg continue, with the implementation of ably during the 1991–2006 period. MAG projects without coordination with DEAg and with the • The agriculture R&D expenditures increased in an establishment of a human resources policy that favors the uneven way but have increased in the past years hiring of technical personnel for short periods (six months) mainly due to the support of the IDB, university without the necessary training. All of this is added to their research, and the separation of SENAVE from MAG, own and deep weaknesses, which has made DEAg’s image which led to an increase in financing for seed and worsen even more. chemical trials. Today, DEAg’s strengths are seen as their presence in almost • Agriculture R&D is financed to a great extent by the all departments of the country, the acceptance of their ser- national government and resources generated internally. vices by farmers, and the increasing integration of the CDAs In-kind donations also play an important role in the with local governments. DEAg’s weaknesses are the need for financing of research activities done by DIA. training technical staff on new production and marketing • The levels of university staff in agriculture research in techniques, incorporation of human resources with lack of Paraguay are among the lowest in Latin America and qualifications, low levels of pay, lack of budget for operational the Caribbean. expenses, the weak presence of technical staff in CDA, and • The recent creation of IPTA could bolster the capac- DEAg’s own district offices with little coordination with ongo- ity and expenditure in agriculture R&D during the next ing projects. years. Agriculture research, on the other hand, has not received Given that IPTA is such a young institution, it is still prema- an adequate budget in relation to the importance of the ture to evaluate it. Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-43 between the poor. For example, having a land title facili- farmers receive technical assistance from private sources tates access to credit, education helps access off-farm labor like specialists from private input suppliers. The difference markets, and the availability of infrastructure (rural roads, in service quality is evident. See box 5.1. In terms of edu- electricity, and so forth) facilitates marketing. In other cation, a third of heads of family farms have primary edu- words, these assets reduce vulnerability and increase the cation up to third grade or totally lack schooling, which is resilience in light of the risks. Access to the following assets in sharp contrast to medium and large farmers that have determine to a great extent the vulnerability and resil- higher or technical education and in part at the univer- ience: land title, financing resources, technological innova- sity level. In relation to production infrastructure, family tion, education, and basic and productive infrastructure. farms tend to use common wells, regular water distribu- tion systems, and natural springs, while medium to large 47 percent of farms have definite land title, 22 percent farmers use water from reservoirs, private wells, dams, has a temporary document, 8 percent is rented land or in and Australian tanks (UNDP 2011). These assets are key partnership, and the rest are other forms of land tenure. during drought periods. Only 18 percent of farms have access to the formal finan- cial market, with 16 percent of family farmers receiving According to these considerations, family farmers and some type of credit. Basically, the latter ones access credit, their households are the ones with the largest risk, first, in their great majority, through the Credito Agricola de given their initial vulnerability situation and second, due Habilitacion (CAH), and financing from cooperatives to their low capacity to efficiently manage production and According to data from the last two census, the number of market risks. To change this situation, it would be nec- farms receiving credit was reduced by half between 1991 essary both to improve the risk management conditions and 2008. 14 percent of the family farms receive technical of small farmers as well as modify the factors that cause assistance compared to 38 percent of the medium to large the initial vulnerability situation. Without solving this, it farmers. More than half of family farms receive techni- would be difficult to reduce the risks along supply chains cal assistance from some public sector agency like the like cotton or vegetables, and also to increase the viability Agricultural DEAg of MAG, while the medium and large of small scale production in chains such as soy and others. 1-44 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment CHAPTER SIX PRIORITIZATION AND RISK MANAGEMENT RISK PRIORITIZATION In tables 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3 the commercial agriculture, livestock, and family farm- ing risks of major importance are summarized respectively, identified based on their potential to causing damage, their frequency, and the capacity of the actors to manage them. TABLE 6.1. COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE RISK PRIORITIZATION Probability/ Impact Low Moderate Critical Catastrophic Very high Pests and Variability of the diseases international price differentials (soy) High Exchange Conflicts of Drought, rate risk water use due approximately to ambiguous every three years regulatory (soy) framework (soy, maize) Medium Drought Brazil’s erratic (rice) import policy (rice) Low Hail Early frost (zafriña maize) Loss of market access to Brazil for possible claim against the irregular use of seeds (rice) Source: Authors. Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-45 TABLE 6.2. LIVESTOCK RISK PRIORITIZATION Probability/ Impact Low Moderate Critical Catastrophic Very high High Flooding due to rain Drought Medium FMDa Low Cattle rustling Land Invasions Source: Authors. a At present, periodic vaccination is underway and the Permanent Veterinary Committee of the Southern Cone and the Panamerican Center of Foot and Mouth Disease are controlling SENACSA. TABLE 6.3. FAMILY FARMING RISK PRIORITIZATION Probability/ Impact Low Moderate Critical Catastrophic Very high Frosts (vegetables) High Pests and diseases Exchange rate volatility (soy) Diseases (sesame) (soy, cassava) Price volatility (soy, cassava) Drought + frosts (sugar cane) Pests (sesame, cotton) Drought (soy, sesame, cotton, Drought (sugar cane) vegetables) Oversupply of the market due to changes in exchange rates, and so forth with neighboring countries (vegetables) Medium Frost (sugar cane) Price volatility (sesame) Excess rainfall (vegetables) Low Hail (soy, cassava, Early frost (soy) cotton) Hail (sesame) Late frosts (cassava) Lack of raw material for industry for Brazil (cassava) Rejection of exports (sesame) Drought (cassava) Source: Authors. Note: Underlined means that the risks are currently being mitigated or transferred, at least partially. It is to be noted that many of the recommendations rela- RISK MANAGEMENT tive to enabling environment risks, which without a doubt PRIORITY MEASURES impact the agriculture productive sector, are part of pub- In this section, a series of proposals to reduce non-mit- lic policies that go beyond the agriculture public sector igated risks are presented, according to what was iden- entities and that require a more integrated action by the tified in previous sections. It is to be noted that many government, possibly in coordination with private sector. identified deficiencies are being addressed by public action at present, at least partially, and that these have Finally, it is to be highlighted that the proposed actions been taken into account in order to design final recom- related to the commercial farming sector reference market mendations. Tables 6.4, 6.5, and 6.6 contain a set of instruments that allow to improve risk management and actions that have not been filtered and that were pre- for which the public sector role would only be reduced to sented to stakeholders as a result of interviews and a one of facilitator, while family farming may require public workshop undertaken on June 27, 2013. policies to intervene directly in order to mitigate and absorb more effectively the risks phased by these households. 1-46 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment TABLE 6.4. COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE RISK SOLUTIONS Solutions Risks Mitigation Transfer Production Improve the weather forecasting and early warning systems. This Promote the revision of the contractual means training, technical assistance, infrastructure components, characteristics and conditions imposed and a close coordination among UGR of MAG, the Federacion de by insurance companies in order to Cooperativas de Produccion Ltda. (FECOPROD), and INBIO. reduce insurance costs and promote Increase the capacity of public and private R&D. Furthermore, the demand. Furthermore, it would be public sector must achieve an improved knowledge of the state of necessary to provide transparency to the natural resources and its utilization capacity. the policies related to insured risks. For example, insurance companies Promote the use of complementary and supplementary irrigation, refuse to provide indemnity payments as the environmental and productive objectives are being aligned. It for macrophomina in farms affected by is necessary to: (i) define a policy of NDE in order to facilitate access drought, arguing that this risk is not to energy in rural areas and ensure its regular supply; (ii) increase covered, although it is known that the public R&D in irrigation of main crops; (iii) implement long-term development of the fungus is caused by credit for financing irrigation infrastructure and equipment. drought. Implement long-term credit for rice in order to finance the construction and rehabilitation of water reservoirs, silos and equipment through committees and farmer associations. Market Develop an integrated market information system, including Develop a permanent program production projections, marketable supply, demand and prices, for training in futures and options accessible by producers and other market players (recommendation markets for the different actors of the also valid for family farmers). supply chain (farmers, intermediaries, Analyze the possibility of establishing an agriculture commodity cooperatives, industries, exporters). A exchange, as in neighboring and other markets (cash markets, program of this type is a mandatory forward sales and eventually futures, including other training and response to the high international arbitration functions). In principle, given the limited volume of market volatility situation, associated operations, it could be possible to start with a cash market (spot and with high price levels and low levels of forwards), postponing the development of a futures market. stocks. Evaluate the possibility of implementing long-term public policies related to export logistics, trade negotiations with neighboring countries, and enabling environment risks that tend to reduce the variability in the levels of price differentials for domestic soy prices. Enabling Undertake negotiations with Argentina to build a port that can Environment provide services for barge transfers to inter-ocean liners at the Parana River. Increase consultations between private and public sectors to establish negotiations with Brazil about rice exports. Improve road and port infrastructure. The significant increase in exportable production and future projects is a solid justification for putting in place an ambitious roads program. Define regulatory framework based on scientific knowledge for water and land use. Today there is ambiguity and weaknesses that disincentivize productive investments. Promote the participation of IPTA and the National Plant and Seed Health Quality service (SENAVE) to validate rice seeds and regularize the irregular legal situation. Furthermore, develop research programs on rice at IPTA. Develop strategic plans for crop development (rice, soy, and so forth). Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-47 TABLE 6.5. LIVESTOCK RISK SOLUTIONS Solutions Risks Mitigation Transfer Production With respect to the FMD control, it is necessary to have: good sanitary practices; Free vaccination against FMD mandatory traceability throughout the supply chain; FMD risk analysis (up to 10 animals). methodology (multiple criteria analysis based on GIS); continuous rigorous Livestock insurance. vaccination process control (electronic vaccination registry); and vaccine quality control (ISO 9000). SENACSA has to strengthen its services. In order to reduce the impact of extreme weather events (drought and so on), it is necessary to improve: best practices for the management of sustainable production systems; integrated productive systems (crop, livestock, and forestry); and improving rainfall water retention and storage techniques (reservoirs, and so on). Coordination between SENACSA-DEAg is required. In order to prevent severe flooding impact, it is necessary to implement an early warning system for floods managed by MAG. Enabling Road surveillance for cattle rustling. environment TABLE 6.6. FAMILY FARMING RISK SOLUTIONS Solutions Risks Mitigation Absorption Production Use drought tolerant varieties (in general) and short-cycle varieties Create a contingency fund to support (sesame), disseminating research from IPTA and developing new research family farms affected by adverse natural Ensure appropriate public technical services that allow to: (i) introduce disasters in a transparent manner and best agriculture practices (crop rotation, soil improvement, conservation with minimum discretionary power by the agriculture, green fertilizer, and so on); (ii) undertake pest monitoring public sector. and early detection (such as picudo); (iii) achieve timely pest control; (iv) Establish long-term credit lines for disseminate appropriate irrigation techniques; (v) promote the installment small producers through CAH or other of greenhouses (vegetables); (vi) promote crop diversification. financial institutions in order to allow investments and consolidate debt from farmers that are not repaying due to past natural disasters. Market Develop an integrated market information system, including production Develop a permanent program for projections, marketable supply, demand and prices, accessible by training in futures and options markets producers and other market players. for the different actors of the supply chain Promote the strengthening of coordination mechanisms throughout the (farmers, intermediaries, cooperatives, supply chains, such as disseminating the experience with marketing plans industries, exporters). A program of this of the cassava starch industry or establishing municipal level services for type is a mandatory response to the high claims of contractual obligations (consumption products). international market volatility situation, associated with high price levels and low Train staff of farmer cooperatives for operating futures markets. levels of stocks. Promote the joint marketing of production among producer groups of a lower organizational level. Enabling Establish market observatories in order to compile information about the environment main partners to be used in trade negotiations and thus reducing the risk for facing non-tariff barriers or trade regulations (ports). Improving the customs controls in order to avoid the entry of products without the required sanitary certification, as well as to control the standards of products being exported (such as sesame). 1-48 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment The priority solutions are the following: CURRENT PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS AND GAPS MITIGATION: Many of the actions indicated above are already being » Improve the efficiency and coordination of existing incorporated to a certain extent in public policies and pro- technical services (DEAg, IPTA, SENAVE) relative grams. A special mention is warranted for the Risk Man- to production and trade of products. agement Unit of MAG, which represents the most clear » Develop an integrated market information system. institutional response to the recognition of the importance » Improve the weather forecasting and early warning of agriculture risks in the sectoral public policies. Within systems. its functions are the undertaking of historical studies, sup- » Promote the concerted development of supply ply of up-to-date meteorological information, forecasting, chain strategic plans between public and private and early warning systems. It is mainly addressing weather sector. risks. For the moment it is a project in development, and it » Take actions related to the regulatory framework, does not reach farmers massively, with a need to strengthen negotiations with neighboring countries, and it and integrating it to other ongoing initiatives. investments in basic infrastructure. In appendix D, a current inventory of projects is presented, many of them financed through loans from international TRANSFER: institutions, which include actions like the ones identified » Study the details for the creation of an agriculture in this report, even when none of them are solely concen- commodity exchange. trated on managing risks. Table 6.7 compiles the analysis » Undertake necessary actions to develop a more done to match the proposals with the set of current initia- competitive agriculture insurance market. tives in the country, mainly targeting family farming. The result is a proposed short list of solutions, where the RISK ABSORPTION: most urgent measures are highlighted. » Create a contingency fund to address emergency situations. In summary, the set of identified actions include: (i) risk » In volume 2 the proposed solutions are assessed mitigation, actions that occur before (ex ante) the risk in detail among these thematic areas: technologi- event materializes; (ii) risk transfer, market transfer instru- cal innovations, agriculture commodity exchange, ments (agriculture insurance, price hedging); and (iii) risk agriculture insurance, contingency fund, selected absorption once the event occurs (ex post). supply chain coordination. Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-49 TABLE 6.7. SHORT LIST OF SOLUTIONS 1-50 Prospective Risk Solution Summary of Solutions Current from Current Gap Risks (Long List) Projects Projects Exists? Proposed Solutions (Short List) Use drought tolerant varieties (in PPR (IFAD) Limited, Yes Improve the efficiency and coordination of technical general) and short-cycle varieties PRODERS given services available (DEAg, IPTA, SENAVE) in order (sesame), disseminating research from (World Bank) geographic to promote the proposals indicated with.* IPTA and developing new research.* coverage and Create a contingency fund to address the emergency Agriculture Ensure appropriate public technical number of situation. Supports (IDB) services that allow to: (i) introduce best beneficiaries Study the creation of an agriculture commodity PMRN/2KR agriculture practices (crop rotation, exchange. soil improvement, conservation Paraguay Undertake actions to develop a more competitive agriculture, green fertilizer, etc.); (ii) Inclusivo Project agriculture insurance market. undertake pest monitoring and early (FIDA) Promote negotiations with neighboring countries detection (such as picudo); (iii) achieve Family farming about trade logistics. timely pest control; (iv) disseminate food production Promote local norms that can facilitate coordination appropriate irrigation techniques; promotion mechanisms among producers and industry to (v) promote the installment of Program (MAG) comply with contracts. greenhouses (vegetables); (vi) promote crop diversification.* Intensify the marketing activities in programs by DEAg, in order to increase the organizational Create a contingency fund based on structure and sale of products by family farmers and precise and transparent rules that other risk reduction measures. ensure an appropriate productive Undertake training (MAG) to cooperative leaders emergency response quickly and and other actors for operating in futures markets. effectively. Improve the weather forecasting and early warning Refinance debt due to natural system. disasters. Develop an integrated market price information Improve the weather forecasting and system early warning systems. Establish market observatories. Implement best sanitary practices; Evaluate the effectiveness of sanitary services linked traceability; and so forth, for to exports and propose complementary policies. controlling FMD. Evaluate in detail the current state of basic infrastructure for grain transport and develop improvement programs. Strengthen the FMD control services of SENACSA. Promote the concerted development of supply chain Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment development between public and private sector. Prospective Risk Solution Summary of Solutions Current from Current Gap Risks (Long List) Projects Projects Exists? Proposed Solutions (Short List) Market Promote the strengthening of PPR (IFAD) coordination mechanisms throughout PRODERS (World supply chains, such as disseminating the Bank) experience of the marketing plans of the Paraguay Inclusivo cassava starch industry or establishing Project (IFAD) municipal level services for filing claims for breaking contractual obligations (consumption products). Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan Train staff from farmer cooperatives for operating in the futures market. Promote the joint commercialization of production among farmer groups of lower organizational structure. Enabling Establish market observatories in order Paraguay Inclusivo environment to compile information about marketing Project (IFAD) partners to be used in trade negotiations and to reduce the risk of facing non- tariff barriers and trade regulations (ports). Improve customs controls in order to avoid the entry of products with no sanitary certification, as well as to control the complying with export norms (such as sesame). Improve road infrastructure and access to ports, increasing dredging and signaling of the grain transport rivers. Develop strategic plans for crops (soy, rice, and so on). 1-51 REFERENCES Agencia Estatal de Meteorología–AEMET (ND). Interpretación del Índice de Precipitación Estandarizado. [En línea] Disponible: http://www.aemet.es/es /serviciosclimaticos/vigilancia_clima/vigilancia_sequia/ayuda. BCP. 2012. Informe económico preliminar. Asunción. BID. 2005. Perfil de Proyecto. Programa de Empresariado Social. Paraguay. Alivio a la pobreza con la producción de almidón de mandioca.” Paraguay. Borda, D., F. Anichini, and J. Ramírez. 2013. Estudio de la volatilidad agrícola en Paraguay. Asunción. CADEP. 2013. Estudio de Potencialidad de Desarrollo de las Cadenas de Valor. Asunción. CAPEXSE (Cámara Paraguaya de Exportadores de Sésamo). 2013. La importancia del sésamo como cultivo de renta en el Paraguay (mímeo). Paraguay. Consultora Integral en Agronegocios. 2011. Cadena de Valor de la Caña de Azúcar. Informe de Consultoría. EDRIPP/JICA. Asunción, Paraguay. Consultora Integral en Agronegocios. 2011. Cadena de Valor del Sésamo. Informe de Consultoría. EDRIPP/JICA. Asunción, Paraguay. Consultora Integral en Agro-negocios. 2011. Cadena de Valor de la Mandioca. Informe de Consultoría. EDRIPP/JICA. Asunción, Paraguay. Dirección de Meteorología e Hidrología (ND). Clima del Paraguay. FAO. 2007. Expansión futura de la soja 2005–14, Santiago de Chile. FAO-TCI. 2007. Desarrollo Agrícola y Rural: Tendencias Recientes y Recomenda- ciones. Roma. Faílde, A., M. Mondelli, and C. Peixoto. 2010. Inserción de la Agricultura Famil- iar en los Modelos de Gobernanza de las Cadenas Agroindustriales. Cadena del Almidón de Mandioca en Paraguay. CINVE, Uruguay. Giménez Rolón, C. 2011. Programa de Fomento de la Producción de Alimentos por la Agricultura Familiar. Informe de Consultoría. FAO. San Lorenzo, Paraguay. Giménez Rolón, C. 2010. Marco Estratégico Agrario: Agricultura Familiar y Seguridad Alimentaria. Informe de Consultoría. IICA. Asunción, Paraguay. Hatch, D. C., M. Núñez, F. Vila, and K. Stephenson, 2012. Los seguros agropecuarios en las Américas. IICA, San José de Costa Rica. IICA. 2010. Políticas públicas de gestión del riesgo agropecuario en los países del CAS. Santiago de Chile. IICA. 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010. Situación y Perspectivas del Sector Agro-Rural Paraguayo. Asunción, Paraguay. MAG. 2013. Registro Nacional de Agricultura Familiar. Base de Datos. San Lorenzo, Paraguay. MAG Digital (http://www.mag.gov.py/). 2013. MAG. 2012. Informe de gestión institucional. Asunción, Paraguay. MAG. 2012. Plan Agrario 2011/2012. Asunción, Paraguay. Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-53 MAG. 2011. Marco estratégico agrario ampliado 2009/2018: Directrices básicas, Asunción, Paraguay. MAG. 2008. Censo Agropecuario Nacional. San Lorenzo, Paraguay. MAG. 1991. Censo Agropecuario Nacional. San Lorenzo, Paraguay. MAG. Calendario de siembra. Asunción, Paraguay, Paraguay. MAG (ND). Calendario de Siembra, Viceministerio de Agricultura—Dirección de Extensión Agraria/Dirección General de Planifi cación. [En línea] Disponible: http://www.mag.gov.py/dgp/Calendario%20de%20siembra%20MAG.pdf MAG. Programa de fomento de la producción de alimentos por la agricultura familiar. Asunción, Paraguay. Molinas M., A. Silvio. 2010. El sector agro-rural paraguayo: Importancia, potenciali- dades y desafíos, Unión de Gremios de la Producción. Asunción, Paraguay. Stads, J., and V. Santander (2008). ASTI Cuaderno Pais No. 40. United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Paraguay Rural: una vision para el sector rural (2011) http://www.undp.org.py/odh/fotos/publicaciones2/id8_ pub1.pdf. USAID. 2010. Mandioca: Una opción industrial. Paraguay. USAID. 2009. Sésamo: Innovación en Agronegocios. Paraguay. World Bank. 2013. Growth Volatility in Paraguay: Sources, Effects, & Options. 1-54 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment APPENDIX A YIELD AND RAINFALL DATA CORRELATION This appendix describes the process implemented for: (i) estimating meteorological drought events through a standardized precipitation index (SPI), and (ii) calculating the correlation between the yield variables recorded by MAG authorities and accumu- lated rainfall data measured by meteorological stations. YIELD DATA The work included data for annual production, planted area, and yields for 39 crops at department level: 28 of them were seasonal crops and 11 permanent crops. The database was provided by MAG and is made up of a time series with discontinuities and with gaps in the data. The longest time series is the one for the database of 1980–11, while the most recent one is between 2007–11. Due to the larger concentration of data for seasonal crops at the beginning of 1990, it was decided to exclude the data for the 1980s from the analy- sis. Table A.1 shows the initial and final years of data considered for each crop. RAINFALL DATA Monthly data was provided for 24 meteorological stations, with data from January 1960 to December 2010. Due to the fact that there was no clear reference to the begin- ning of the operation of each of the station, it was assumed that all stations started operating in January 1980. The range of missing data for these stations is from a mini- mum of 0 percent to a maximum of 78.57 percent. Due to the high level of missing data, only the stations with series with less than 75 percent of missing data was used (1980–2010). This criteria led to the selection of 11 meteorological stations. Table A.2 shows the meteorological stations selected according to the above criteria. RAINFALL PATTERNS Rainfall in Paraguay shows a bimodal behavior of high values between the months of October and March, and of low values between April and September. In spatial terms, there is a clear variation between the regions of the country: Average annual values tend to decrease from southeast to northwest, going through an average of 1,900 mm to over 600 mm per year (DMH, ND). On the other hand, the data analysis of selected meteoro- logical stations show standard deviations from a minimum of 34 percent to a maximum of Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-55 TABLE A.1. INITIAL AND FINAL DATE REGISTERED FOR PRODUCTION AND PLANTED AREA PER CROP Id Type of Crop Crop Initial Registry Final Registry Number of Years 1 Seasonal Garlic 1980 2011 32 2 Seasonal Cotton 1980 2011 32 3 Seasonal Irrigated Rice 1980 2011 32 4 Seasonal Dryland Rice 1980 2011 32 5 Seasonal Peas 1980 2011 32 6 Seasonal Sweet Potato 1980 2011 32 7 Seasonal Sugar Cane 1980 2011 32 8 Seasonal Canola 2007 2011 5 9 Seasonal Onion 1980 2011 32 10 Seasonal Strawberry 1980 2011 32 11 Seasonal Sunflower 1980 2011 32 12 Seasonal Habilla 1980 2011 32 13 Seasonal Ka’a He’e 2002 2011 10 14 Seasonal Locote 1980 2011 32 15 Seasonal Maize 1980 2011 32 16 Seasonal Yams 1980 2011 32 17 Seasonal Peanuts 1980 2011 32 18 Seasonal Mint 1980 2011 32 19 Seasonal Potato 1980 2011 32 20 Seasonal Bean 1980 2011 32 21 Seasonal Sesame 2000 2011 12 22 Seasonal Soy 1980 2011 32 23 Seasonal Sorghum 1980 2011 32 24 Seasonal Tobacco 1980 2011 32 25 Seasonal Tomato 1980 2011 32 26 Seasonal Tártago 1980 2011 32 27 Seasonal Wheat 1980 2011 32 28 Seasonal Carrot 1980 2011 32 29 Permanent Banana 2002 2011 10 30 Permanent Coffee 2002 2011 10 31 Permanent Lemon 2002 2011 10 32 Permanent Tangarine 2002 2011 10 33 Permanent N. Dulce 2002 2011 10 34 Permanent N. Agrio 2002 2011 10 35 Permanent Pineapple 2002 2011 10 36 Permanent Grapefruit 2002 2011 10 37 Permanent Tung 2002 2011 10 38 Permanent Grape 2002 2011 10 39 Permanent Yerba Mate 2002 2011 10 Source: World Bank data. 1-56 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment TABLE A.2. SELECTION OF METEOROLOGICAL STATIONS ACCORDING TO PERCENTAGE OF MISSING VALUES, 1980–2010 ID Station Latitude Longitude % Missing Values Selected 1 Adrian Jara –19.5 –59.4 19.89% No 2 Bahia Negra –20.2 –58.4 45.16% No 3 Prats Gil –22.7 –61.5 25.81% No 4 Misiones –22 –60.6 0.27% Yes 5 Puerto Casado –22.2 –58.1 0.00% Yes 6 Pedro Juan Caballero –22.6 –55.9 2.69% Yes 7 Pozo Colorado –23.3 –59.2 30.11% No 8 Concepción –23.4 –57.5 0.00% Yes 9 General Bruguez –24.4 –58.6 38.71% No 10 San Pedro –24.1 –57.1 66.40% No 11 San Estanislao –24.7 –56.4 12.10% No 12 Salto Del Guaira –24.1 –54.5 13.71% No 13 Asunción –25.2 –57.7 0.00% Yes 14 Paraguari –25.8 –57.3 85.48% No 15 Villeta –25.7 –56.5 0.00% Yes 16 Coronel Oviedo –25.3 –56.4 34.95% No 17 Gua –25.4 –54.5 64.52% No 18 Ciudad Del Este –25.4 –54.8 11.83% No 19 Pilar –26.8 –58.3 1.08% Yes 20 San Juan Bautista –26.7 –57.2 0.27% Yes 21 Caazapa –26.2 –56.4 3.49% Yes 22 Capitán Meza –26.8 –55.5 1.08% Yes 23 Capitán Miranda –26.9 –55.8 4.57% Yes 24 Encarnación –27.2 –56 0.27% Yes Source: World Bank data. 163 percent above the estimated average monthly values for ity conditions.22 In relation to the definition of drought, the period 1980–2010. Figures A.1 and A.2 show the spatial this was defined when the SPI values presented two or and time variations of the rainfall values of the country. more negative consecutive values up to the moment when SPI goes back to normal or positive terrain (Agen- STANDARDIZED cia Estatal de Meteorologia [AEMET, ND]). PRECIPITATION INDEX (SPI) The SPI was calculated from the monthly rainfall data. In order to determine the intensity of drought, the following ranges for SPI val- 22 This index indicates that the number of standard devia- ues were used. The different values here below are classified into seven categories: Classification Range tions of rainfall values fall (increase) in relation to the Severe humidity 2.00 a more average. The utility of this index is in its power to assess Moderate humidity 1.50 a 1.99 hydrological excess or deficit and compare its intensity Weak humidity 1.00 a 1.49 across areas (meteorological stations) with different cli- Normal –0.99 a 0.99 mate conditions. Therefore, positive SPI values indicate Weak drought –1.49 a –1.00 humid conditions while negative values show water defi- Moderate drought –1.99 a –1.50 cit and values between −1 and 1 indicate normal humid- Severe drought lower –2.00 Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-57 FIGURE A.1. WEATHER NORMS FOR PARAGUAY, 1971–2000 Source: DMH. SPI estimations based on monthly data were calculated registering moderate to severe droughts in any given for each of the selected meteorological stations. The year was equal to 2 (or 18 percent of the total). The results of the analysis show a reduction in the Moder- years when those events were recorded were 1981, ate to Severe Humidity events registered in those stations 1999, and 2008. For 2009, it was pointed out recur- since the 1980s to 2000s, going from 11 registered cases rently in interviews with MAG specialists and by a between 1980–89 to only 5 at the end of 2000. On the farmer group as a dry year, but only Misiones station other hand, the SPI shows a slight increase in the num- (SPI = −1.97) showed values moderately under normal ber of Moderate to Severe Drought events during the values (SPI = −0.99 to 0.99). However, when analyz- same period. Table A.3 shows the number of Moderate ing data at a more disaggregate level such as monthly to Severe Humidity and Drought events, respectively, per data—the SPI show that weak droughts began to be meteorological station. recorded in most observation points in the spring of 2008, and then those situations dissipated during the Years where the humidity conditions are moderate fall of 2009. It is important to note that those humidity to severe were registered in at least 30 percent of the adverse conditions coincide with the planting calen- stations during the years 1983, 1997–98, and 2002. dars of several crops, which could have generated yield On the other hand, the maximum number of stations losses for those groups interviewed. 1-58 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment FIGURE A.2. ANNUAL AVERAGE RAINFALL VALUES FOR 11 METEOROLOGICAL STATIONS, 1980–2010 Misiones Puerto casado 140 200 180 120 160 100 140 80 120 100 60 80 40 60 40 20 20 0 0 Ene Feb Mar Abr May Jun Jul Ago Sep Oct Nov Dic Ene Feb Mar Abr May Jun Jul Ago Sep Oct Nov Dic Pedro juan caballero Concepción 250 200 180 200 160 140 150 120 100 100 80 60 50 40 20 0 0 Ene Feb Mar Abr May Jun Jul Ago Sep Oct Nov Dic Ene Feb Mar Abr May Jun Jul Ago Sep Oct Nov Dic Asunción Villeta 180 200 180 160 160 140 140 120 120 100 100 80 80 60 60 40 40 20 20 0 0 Ene Feb Mar Abr May Jun Jul Ago Sep Oct Nov Dic Ene Feb Mar Abr May Jun Jul Ago Sep Oct Nov Dic Pilar San juan bautista 200 200 180 180 160 160 140 140 120 120 100 100 80 80 60 60 40 40 20 20 0 0 Ene Feb Mar Abr May Jun Jul Ago Sep Oct Nov Dic Ene Feb Mar Abr May Jun Jul Ago Sep Oct Nov Dic (Continued ) Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-59 FIGURE A.2. ANNUAL AVERAGE RAINFALL VALUES FOR 11 METEOROLOGICAL STATIONS, 1980–2010 (Continued) Capitán meza Capitán miranda 200 250 180 160 200 140 120 150 100 80 100 60 40 50 20 0 0 Ene Feb Mar Abr May Jun Jul Ago Sep Oct Nov Dic Ene Feb Mar Abr May Jun Jul Ago Sep Oct Nov Dic Encarnación 250 200 150 100 50 0 Ene Feb Mar Abr May Jun Jul Ago Sep Oct Nov Dic Source: AEMET. TABLE A.3. MODERATE TO SEVERE EXCESS HUMIDITY AND DROUGHT EVENTS ACCORDING TO SPI ESTIMATES DURING THE PERIOD 1980–2009 Moderate to Severe Excess Events Moderate to Severe Drought Events Name of Station 1980–89 1990–99 2000–09 1980–89 1990–99 2000–09 Misiones 3 - - - - 1 Puerto casado 2 1 - - 1 - Pedro juan caballero 1 2 - 1 - - Concepción 2 2 - 1 1 - Asunción - 3 - - - - Villeta - 3 1 - 1 1 Pilar 1 1 - - 1 1 San juan bautista 1 2 - - - 1 Capitán meza - 2 2 1 - - Capitán miranda - - 1 - - 1 Encarnación 1 1 1 - - - Source: World Bank data. to which extent the rainfall variable explains crop behav- CORRELATION CALCULATIONS ior two types of correlations were estimated: (i) between A small percentage of agriculture in the country is done yield and SPI data at an annual level (calendar year); and under irrigation; and for this reason variations (positive or (ii) between the crop yield and accumulated rainfall dur- negative) of the values of rainfall over a productive area ing the plant growth cycle. For the latter, the process is are expected to cause losses in crops. In order to identify detailed below. 1-60 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment TABLE A.4. PLANTING DATES PER CROP AND METEOROLOGICAL STATION Name of Irrigated Met Station Department Garilic Cotton Rice Maize Yams Peanuts Potato Beans Soy Tomato Asunción Pte. Hayes April Aug Jul Nov Aug Oct Continuous Capitán Meza Itapua April Oct Oct Aug Jul Aug Mar Aug Oct Continuous Capitán Itapua April Oct Oct Aug Jul Aug Mar Aug Oct Continuous Miranda Concepción Concepción April Sep Feb Aug Jul Aug Mar Aug Oct Continuous Encarnación Itapua April Oct Oct Aug Jul Aug Mar Aug Oct Continuous Misiones Misiones April Oct Oct Aug Jul Aug Mar Aug Oct Continuous Pedro Amambay April Aug Jul Aug Mar Aug Oct Continuous J. Caballero Pilar Neemucu April Sep Sep Aug Jul Aug Mar Aug Oct Continuous Puerto Casado Alto Paraguay April Aug Jul Nov Aug Oct Continuous San Juan Misiones April Oct Oct Aug Jul Aug Mar Aug Oct Continuous Bautista Villeta Guaira April Aug Jul Aug Mar Aug Oct Continuous Duration of Productive Cycle (months) 6 5 4 5 12 5 3 3 4 12 Source: Authors. Note: In the case of tomato, this has a duration of approximately four months and is planted throughout the year by complementary irrigation. With the objective of undertaking this analysis, annual yield data were correlated with the accumulated rainfall during the agriculture year (July year 1 to July year 2). As a first step, the meteorological stations were associated yield values for each crop in the corresponding depart- with a geographic space (departments) through GIS. ments. Due to gaps in the yield data, however, an arbi- trary rule was established for the correlation calculations The second step was to identify those crops from where a where it would be completed if and only if a minimum of reduced planting window was available. This informa- 15 consecutive years was available for yields in the respec- tion was obtained from different manuals and agriculture tive department. guides prepared by MAG. From this exercise, 10 crops were selected including: garlic, cotton, rice with irrigation, maize, cassava, peanuts, potato, beans, soy, and tomato. STANDARDIZED PRECIPITATION INDEX (SPI): For each of the selected crops different plant growth peri- ods were obtained. Unfortunately, that information was CORRELATION RESULTS only available for soy: The definition of the plant growth The results obtained in the analysis between the annual periods for soy were normally adjusted to monthly periods SPI and the yield values of crops show mixed results in order to correlate it with rainfall (annual accumulation (see table A.5). For example, the SPI measured at the for each period). For the rest of the cases, accumulated Misiones station explains 55 percent of the behavior of rainfall was used during the corresponding production sweet potato. This value indicates that the more rain, the cycle. Table A.4 shows the planting month for each crop greater the possibility of obtaining higher yields for this per meteorological station and department. crop. Although these results are encouraging, such pat- ter is not registered in the other selected stations where Lastly, the accumulated rainfall values were calculated correlation values do not go beyond 15 percent, and even for each station according to the duration of the crop or register negative values. These negative values could be stage in order to correlate the resulting values with the interpreted as yields increasing when there are low levels Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-61 TABLE A.5. CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS (R2) BETWEEN RAINFALL AND YIELD VARIABLES FOR DIFFERENT CROPS (Continued ) Met Station Encarnación Concepción Pedro Juan Caballero Asunción Misiones San Juan Miranda Bautista Capitán Capitán Casado Puerto Villeta Crop Meza Pilar Ajo 26.02% 10.02% N/A 9.17% 1.03% –0.35% 19.41% –18.06% 12.85% N/A –2.07% Algodón 46.38% 37.34% 14.70% 2.28% 32.00% 1.66% 29.83% –7.77% 30.49% –27.52% 34.33% Arroz con –31.68% 8.80% N/A 15.24% 6.08% 14.08% 23.09% 4.43% –26.04% N/A –6.78% ríego Arroz –39.68% 15.68% 15.08% 9.75% –3.61% 26.56% 10.92% 4.24% 39.83% N/A –10.20% Secano Arveja 2.60% 3.74% –24.89% 8.38% –20.91% 1.05% 2.64% 4.36% 21.25% N/A 12.91% Banano N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Batata 55.10% 4.85% –24.91% –0.08% –4.07% –6.78% –18.87% 10.68% –11.90% 14.97% 10.43% Cafeto –25.03% –6.63% N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Caña De –24.86% –15.47% –24.53% 21.37% –16.84% 12.39% –19.78% –14.77% –15.20% 1.33% 33.22% Azücar Cebolla –8.04% –7.80% –42.14% 4.59% –3.37% 4.54% 16.47% –0.10% –13.79% N/A –23.23% Frutilla –34.01% 2.14% N/A –3.63% –0.67% 26.58% 24.86% 5.14% N/A N/A 6.23% Girasol –19.31% 7.87% N/A 8.36% –14.60% 18.27% –9.29% –9.12% –4.68% N/A 1.27% Habilla 40.09% 34.48% –16.19% 11.62% 6.43% 26.56% 34.69% –3.80% 22.41% N/A 24.80% Limón N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Locote –26.18% 19.01% 11.00% 19.20% 10.42% 42.83% 33.74% 20.93% –9.15% –2.29% –14.09% Maíz –17.83% 6.89% –4.35% –20.95% –9.53% 27.23% –1.93% 17.22% 29.47% 16.26% 11.65% Mandarina N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Mandioca –6.39% –22.19% –42.72% –13.41% –13.31% –9.74% –21.43% –18.94% –11.55% –2.98% –5.49% Maní 37.09% –21.49% 15.15% 16.89% 17.11% –12.38% 1.50% –9.16% 6.53% 12.00% 6.96% Menta N/A N/A 11.60% 10.66% 22.08% –17.59% 8.03% 0.93% 2.75% N/A –12.67% N Agrio N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N Dulce N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Papa 5.07% 12.29% 17.42% 8.19% –4.74% 14.34% –20.18% 37.54% 7.26% N/A –20.22% Pita N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 5.87% Pomelo N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 6.25 –8.26% Poroto –25.05% –17.68% –10.28% –9.44% 4.56% 16.74% 19.30% –12.19% 20.49% 8.99% 40.43% Soja –33.96% 10.50% N/A –26.93% 3.54% 36.85% 24.84% 10.08% –3.08% 12.27% 23.17% Sorgo –24.07% –0.34% –7.59% –8.46% –17.11% –10.69% –22.93% 5.79% 18.31% 19.38% 23.85% Tabaco –17.24% –0.79% N/A 15.06% –18.09% 7.66% –3.31% 6.29% 0.06% 6.95% –9.06% (Continued ) 1-62 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment TABLE A.5. CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS (R2) BETWEEN RAINFALL AND YIELD VARIABLES FOR DIFFERENT CROPS (Continued ) Met Station Encarnación Concepción Pedro Juan Caballero Asunción Misiones San Juan Miranda Bautista Capitán Capitán Casado Puerto Villeta Crop Meza Pilar Tsrtago 20.03% –12.33% –18.37% 1.61% –5.56% –28.10% –1.50% –8.48% 11.39% N/A –14.98% Tornate –15.00% 13.32% 12.97% 0.03% 4.33% 33.36% 25.07% 20.77% 3.09% 2.39% 30.76% Trigo –29.82% –24.63% N/A –5.83% –46.45% –27.29% –36.75% 3.88% N/A N/A –3.78% Tung N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Vid –36.10% –26.95% N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Yerba –52.82% –7.73% N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Mate Zanahoria –8.66% 24.32% 27.80% –3.64% –11.02% 24.49% 4.74% 29.97% 0.08% –15.09% –0.36% Source: Author’s calculations with MAG and AEMET data. Notes: Canola, kaahee, and sesame are not included in this analysis. N/A indicates that the correlation analysis was not completed due to yield data missing. of SPI (negative deviations of accumulated rainfall with Although these values are significant, such pattern does respect to the norm). In none of the cases do correlation not repeat itself in the rest of the selected meteorologi- values go beyond an R2 of 56 percent and −56 percent, cal stations. This shows that accumulated rainfall per respectively. productive cycle and plant growth stages (such as soy) do not clearly explain yield behavior for these crops in these CORRELATION RESULTS departments. Table A.7 shows the correlation coefficient values per stage for soy. BETWEEN YIELD AND ACCUMULATED RAINFALL The results obtained previously do not contradict; how- DATA FOR THE PLANT ever, the hypothesis is that the rainfall variable is one of the productive factors that most impacts crop behavior. GROWTH CYCLE OF CROPS Among the reasons that can explain why it was not pos- The correlation values obtained from accumulated rain- sible to obtain higher correlation values from this analysis fall during the productive cycle are not significant. Soy we can mention: was the only crop with an R2 over 53 percent (Capitán Miranda Station). However, negative correlation values The accumulated rainfall data per productive cycle and were equally recorded in one of the stations (−24.15 per- plant growth stages (the latter applies only for soy) could cent, Misiones Station) for the same crop. This represents hide prolonged drought periods, or few days of excessive a similar behavior for other crops analyzed. Table A.6 rainfall. Excessive rainfall in short periods of time could summarizes the correlation results between average yields accumulate rainfall values within the historical norm, but and accumulated rainfall per productive cycle. when falling all at once is not necessarily easily absorbed/ used by crops. For this reason, excessive aggregation of With respect to the correlation values obtained in each of days could be hiding partial or total losses registered by the soy plant growth stages, these show a slight improve- cultivated crops in non-irrigated areas. ment especially in stage 3 when the highest R2 values were obtained equivalent to 62 percent and 74 percent in the Annual yield registries reported by MAG are based on Encarnación and Capitán Miranda Stations respectively. the average of the different planting windows. Weather Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-63 1-64 TABLE A.6. CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS (R2) BETWEEN RAINFALL AND YIELD VARIABLES FOR DIFFERENT CROPS Irrigated Name of Met Station Department Garlic Cotton Rice Maize Yams Peanuts Potato Beans Soy Tomato Asunción Pte. Hayes N/A N/A N/A –4.74% –18.90% 6.73% N/A 4.97% N/A –15.79% Capitán Meza Itapúa –13.92% –35.30% 18.00% 48.47% 13.71% –25.65% 3.66% –0.14% 41.30% 22.61% Capitán Miranda Itapúa –4.79% 5.79% 26.50% 16.46% 3.41% 5.62% –2.96% 12.72% 53.21% 9.97% Concepción Concepción 26.14% –19.59% 13.33% –6.20% 23.62% 20.57% –10.21% 15.89% 26.72% –2.61% Encarnación Itapúa –19.21% 1.73% –17.20% 26.04% 7.19% –0.66% 11.29% 11.59% 36.73% –10.91% Misiones Misiones 18.14% 8.07% –31.10% –12.36% 22.44% 39.75% –9.25% 20.24% –24.15% –16.33% Pedro J. Caballero Amambay –5.54% N/A N/A 9.64% –2.67% 31.46% 2.62% 6.92% 33.12% 11.99% Pilar Ñeembucú 8.07% 23.13% 7.80% 9.37% –10.80% 8.28% 21.05% 7.59% 32.92% –15.18% Puerto Casado Alto Paraguay N/A N/A N/A 19.38% 4.34% 24.41% N/A –16.63% 25.94% 10.27% San Juan Bautista Misiones 2.16% 13.86% 38.67% 10.12% –2.94% –19.32% 5.42% –6.37% 43.61% 2.41% Villeta Guairá 4.30% N/A N/A 23.94% 9.31% 17.21% –20.77% –12.16% 14.61% 19.29% Source: Authors’ calculations based on MAG data. Note: N/A means that the defined criteria for the calculation of the correlation were not met. Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment TABLE A.7. CORRELATION COEFFICIENT (R2) BETWEEN ACCUMULATED RAINFALL VARIABLE PER PLANT GROWTH STAGE AND ANNUAL YIELD DATA FOR SOY Soy/Name of Met Station Department Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Asunción Pte. Haves –37.12% –32.37% –14.13% 11.33% Capitán Meza Itapúa 37.06% 2.57% 46.67% 8.74% Capitán Miranda Itapúa 38.56% –9.05% 74.73% 8.44% Concepción Concepción 27.52% 2.63% 17.28% 22.67% Encarnación Itapúa 42.61% –13.41% 62.42% –7.06% Misiones Misiones –27.58% –8.35% –24.16% 11.02% Pedro J. Caballero Amambay –8.95% –7.99% 39.61% 24.41% Piiar Ñeembucú –8.77% 7.27% 44.59% 14.90% Puerto Casado Alto paraguay N/A N/A N/A N/A San Juan Bautista Misiones 35.38% 7.77% 54.39% –7.50% Villeta Guaira –3.67% 1.87% 27.26% 7.97% Source: AEMET. Note: N/A means that the defined criteria for the calculation of the correlation were not met. GRAPH A.1. PLANTING CALENDAR FOR SOME CROPS IN PARAGUAY Crop January February March April May June July August September October November December Cotton Irrigated rice Dryland rice Oat Sweet potato Sunflower Habilla Maize Source: MAG, ND. conditions (rainfall) in the country allow farmers to select would lead to a prolonged productive cycle. This would different planting dates, and therefore, with different expo- produce that the periods under analysis would differ from sure to risk and productivity levels. Due to the fact that no the effective production period. precise information was available regarding the distribution of planted area by crop throughout the year, single plant- Rainfall is an heterogeneous variable from the spatial and ing dates were assumed per meteorological station and per temporal point of view. Registered data in the selected department. Graph A.1 shows the range of the planting meteorological stations is valid only for a specific area of windows for some of the crops in the country. influence and the yield values were selected at the depart- ment level. For example, the surface of the department of The plant growth characteristics for some crops allow Presidente Hayes is so large (72,907 Km2) that this includes them to recover after suffering hydrological stress (excess isohyets that go from 1,400 mmm to less than 1,000 mm or deficit of humidity). In the case of cotton, for example, per year, and the number of selected weather stations for new flowering could happen after long drought periods. this analysis was only one located in the extreme south- This is a natural reaction by the cotton plant; however, it eastern point of the department. Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-65 APPENDIX B MAIZE PRICE VOLATILITY Paraguay produces white maize mainly for human consumption, produced mostly by fam- ily farmers, and red maize (yellow) mainly for export for animal consumption and industrial use, produced by commercial farmers of different size. Family farmers produce white maize for autoconsumption and for selling to obtain cash income. They also produce some red maize for animal feed, although no information was found about the proportion of produc- tion with respect to white maize. Usually the sale is local, so the price that makes it to the family farmers is much lower than the wholesale price at the Mercado de Asunción, which was used for this analysis. Today, yellow maize is part of the set of products that make up the soy cluster, which, according to geographic location, includes maize, soy, wheat, and sunflower, all cultivated in rotation and with modern technologies and capital injections. The purpose of this analysis is to look at the variability of domestic maize prices in Paraguay, using data from SIMA/MAG for the Mercado de Asunción—DAMA for the period of 1993–2012. All the graphs and statistical indicators were prepared based on data from SIMA/MAG. Although price volatility is not foreign to the functioning of agriculture markets, it is not free of consequences. In fact, it has a negative impact on the economy of family farmers and on the production decision of commercial farmers. The problem can be felt to a lesser degree now when there has been a sustained increase in international agriculture commodity prices, but the reversal of this trend or the increase in input prices or the appreciation of the exchange rate or other factor would make the situa- tion unsustainable in the medium term. The domestic maize price, both white and yellow, taking the Mercado de Asunción— DAMA as reference, shows great variability in the past fifteen years around an increas- ing trend in current guaranis (see graph B.1). In white maize part of this variation can be explained by seasonal variations measured through the stationary price index (graph B.2). The average correlation index between the values of each month and the seasonal values is less than 50 percent. The largest increase is observed at the beginning of the harvest in December and the lowest level Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-67 GRAPH B.1. AVERAGE MONTHLY PRICES FOR WHITE MAIZE AND RED MAIZE, ASUNCIÓN MARKET—DAMA, G$/KG 5000 2000 4500 1800 4000 1600 3500 1400 3000 1200 R2 = 0.8033 2500 R2 = 0.4182 1000 2000 800 1500 600 1000 400 500 200 0 0 E-1998 E-1999 E-2000 E-2001 E-2002 E-2003 E-2004 E-2005 E-2006 E-2007 E-2008 E-2009 E-2010 E-2011 E-1998 E-1999 E-2000 E-2001 E-2002 E-2003 E-2004 E-2005 E-2006 E-2007 E-2008 E-2009 E-2010 E-2011 E-2012 GRAPH B.2. SEASONAL PRICE INDEX FOR WHITE AND RED MAIZE, ASUNCIÓN MARKET—DAMA 125 Mercado de Asunción—DAMA 120 106 Maize (corn), U.S. No.2 yellow, FOB Gulf of Mexico, U.S. price, U.S. dollars per metric ton 115 104 110 102 105 100 100 98 95 90 96 Harvest 85 94 Seeding 80 92 Fe ry ry ch ril ay ne ly st r ov e r ce r r Fe ry ry ch ril ay ne ly t r ov e r ce r r be De be be s be De be be Ju gu a ua Ap Ju gu a ua Ap ob M ob ar M ar Ju Ju nu nu em em m em em m M Au br M Au br ct ct Ja Ja O O pt pt Se Se N N in June. Yellow maize, on the other hand, shows a station- In graph B.4, the increasing trend and the high volatility ary behavior strongly related to the seasonality of interna- is apparent. In both series, very high standard deviations tional prices, as a result of its export orientation where the are shown (868 and 491, respectively, for white and yellow lowest level is produced in September coinciding with the maize), which in relative terms result in coefficient of vari- seasonal minimum in the Gulf of Mexico. ation24 of 51 percent and 63 percent respectively. Actually, the lower value of the coefficient for white maize does not Taking into account prices in a specific point of the mean less volatility for yellow maize, but a higher value year, say in June, when the harvest is completed and is nearing planting,23 we avoid the seasonality effect and obtained a volatility that is constant. This can be 24 The coefficient of variation expresses the standard deviation as percentage of the arithmetic mean of a series. The higher value of the coefficient, the greater observed in graph B.3. the heterogeneity of the values of the variable. However, this indicator is vari- able against changes in the value of origin As the value of origin increases, the 23 According to MAG’s publication, Planting Calendar. lower the coefficient given that the mean is sensible to changes at the origin. 1-68 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment GRAPH B.3. PRICE OF WHITE MAIZE AND RED MAIZE IN JUNE, ASUNCIÓN MARKET— DAMA, G$/KG 4000 2000 3500 1800 1600 3000 y = 116.66x + 373.03 R2 = 0.7169 1400 y = 73.165x – 11.984 2500 1200 R2 = 0.832 2000 1000 1500 800 600 1000 400 500 200 0 0 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 GRAPH B.4. PRICE OF WHITE MAIZE (LEFT) AND RED MAIZE (RIGHT) IN JUNE, ASUNCIÓN MARKET—DAMA, DEFLATED BY THE CPI, G$/KG 4000 1800 3500 1600 y = 27.456x + 755.32 3000 y = 0.5235x + 2246.8 1400 R2 = 0.378 R2 = 2E-05 2500 1200 1000 2000 800 1500 600 1000 400 500 200 0 0 19 5 19 6 19 7 19 8 20 9 00 20 1 20 2 03 20 4 20 5 20 6 20 7 20 8 09 20 0 20 1 12 19 5 19 6 19 7 98 20 9 20 0 01 20 2 20 3 20 4 20 5 20 6 20 7 08 20 9 20 0 20 1 12 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 19 20 20 20 19 19 20 20 at origin (see the formula in graph B.4, 373 against 12), although high observed volatility does persist in nominal and rather the graph’s observation appears to suggest the prices. The standard deviation is at 833, very similar to contrary. the nominal prices series. On the other hand, domestic wholesale prices for yellow maize maintains its increas- Looking to isolate the price variations corresponding to ing trend since 2006, likely responding to the increasing changes in the general price levels, the June prices were trend in the international market (see graph B.4), and has deflated by the respective general price consumer index reduced its volatility somewhat (standard deviation of 336 values, originating a series that we can say represent the against 491 of nominal prices). wholesale prices in real terms (see graph B.5). It is to be noted, however, that inflation in Paraguay was never too In other words, family farmers that produce white maize high during this period. are more exposed to price volatility than commercial farm- ers producing yellow maize (and other rotation crops). The result is that the wholesale price trend for white maize Furthermore, the latter have been able to benefit from the is not increasing during the period (1995–96 to 2011–1225) increase in international prices since 2006, achieving real increases in internal prices, while white maize has varied for family farmers around the same real price for the past The series was reduced by two years given the inability to find complete data 25 on consumer price indices for the period 1993–95. 15 years. Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-69 GRAPH B.5. MAIZE (CORN), U.S. NO. 2 YELLOW, FOB GULF OF MEXICO, U.S. PRICE, U.S. DOLLARS PER METRIC TON 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 33970 34182 34394 34608 34820 35034 35247 35462 35674 35886 36100 36312 36526 36739 36951 37165 37377 37591 37803 38018 38231 38443 38657 38869 39083 39295 39508 39722 39934 40148 40360 40575 40787 41000 41214 GRAPH B.6. MONTHLY VARIATION OF THE PRICE OF WHITE MAIZE AND RED MAIZE (ASUNCIÓN MARKET VS. INTERNATIONAL MARKET) 70% 0.7 0.6 50% 0.5 0.4 30% 0.3 0.2 10% 0.1 –10% 0 –0.1 –30% –0.2 –0.3 –50% –0.4 E-1998 E-1999 E-2000 E-2001 E-2002 E-2003 E-2004 E-2005 E-2006 E-2007 E-2008 E-2009 E-2010 E-2011 E-2012 E-1998 E-1999 E-2000 E-2001 E-2002 E-2003 E-2004 E-2005 E-2006 E-2007 E-2008 E-2009 E-2010 E-2011 E-2012 Maíz blanco Mercado de Asunción—DAMA Maíz colorado Mercado de Asunción—DAMA Maize (corn), U.S. No.2 yellow, FOB Gulf of Mexico, Maize (corn), U.S. No.2 yellow, FOB Gulf of Mexico, U.S. price, U.S. dollars per metric ton U.S. price, U.S. dollars per metric ton Finally, the price of maize in Paraguay shows greater vola- The series with the monthly percentage variations in the tility in the international price. This is clear from graph wholesale domestic price of white and yellow maize have B.6, comparing variations in monthly percentages of the a standard deviation of 17 percent and 12 percent respec- wholesale price of white and yellow maize in Paraguay tively, against 6 percent in the international price for yel- with the international price variations, taking as reference low maize for the period 1998–2012. Again, this shows a the yellow maize price in the Gulf of Mexico. greater price volatility in white maize. 1-70 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment Conclusion and findings than commercial farmers who produce yellow maize for The domestic price of maize according to data from Mer- export to the agroindustry. cado de Asunción (DAMA), supposedly represents the behavior in other national markets, showing high volatil- Therefore, it would be appropriate to analyze further the ity in the long term, which cannot be explained entirely by maize market in both dimensions, family farming and the seasonal variations nor by the general changes in the commercial agriculture, looking to determine the causes prices of the economy as a whole, and which it is larger of such volatility and finding opportunities for the differ- than the volatility of international maize prices. ent actors throughout the supply chain to manage mar- ket risks. Certainly, the main cause of the interannual However, there are differences in the behavior of white (short-term) volatility in prices is due to yield variations and yellow maize, in detriment of the former. Family due to weather events, but there could be other factors farmers (white maize) suffer from greater price volatility impacting prices, such as contraband and enabling envi- and benefit less from the increases in international prices ronment risks. Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-71 1-72 TABLE B.1. AVERAGE MONTHLY PRICES FOR WHITE MAIZE, ASUNCIÓN MARKET—DAMA, G$/KG Month Year January February March April May June July August September October November December 1993 94.1 94.25 97.54 100.49 99.22 92.73 101.89 100.31 101.03 105.77 115.93 121.23 1994 126.72 123.65 120.11 113.42 110.6 112.08 98.73 96.16 97.61 96.11 95.61 102.56 1995 106.9 106.98 109.63 109.64 111.93 120.01 127.31 126.3 130.51 140.82 143.21 148.19 1996 156.67 164.71 170.96 189.03 204 196.64 197.62 186.82 145.24 128.61 117.14 116.84 1997 118.7 121.75 127.86 124.71 118.61 112.58 106.42 111.95 112.24 120.24 117.4 113.6 1998 114.37 113.62 113.84 106.69 105.97 101.75 100.9 88.36 85.71 95.49 97.38 95.32 1999 97.45 94.56 96.43 94.04 92.72 92.95 83.6 86.38 87.12 85.65 85.41 87.22 2000 92.95 95.08 95.17 95.54 95.53 84.04 75.06 75.24 80.15 84.71 88.94 96.22 2001 94.3 92.38 91.01 87.55 85.08 83.16 90.75 92.88 89.74 86.27 89.88 92.31 2002 91.97 90.73 89.86 87.11 90.33 93.17 99.7 109.89 113.94 109.65 108.65 107.01 2003 105.75 106.04 105.06 105.25 107.82 106.99 97.61 100.31 103.22 104.17 108.03 111.98 2004 115.09 122.91 128.43 133.39 129.3 123.23 104.48 104.04 97.76 93.37 93.75 95.59 2005 95.98 94.36 99.94 96.39 95.27 97.56 105.6 98.64 96.99 101.5 95.97 102.66 2006 102.7 106.92 104.89 107.82 110.57 109.55 114.24 115.21 120.26 142.17 164.08 160.66 2007 165.1 177.35 169.52 152.58 156.44 164.5 147.13 151.01 160.05 164.09 171.06 180.25 2008 206.53 219.95 233.85 246.67 243.46 287.11 266.94 235.16 233.91 182.96 164.27 158.16 2009 173.24 163.13 164.52 168.72 180.31 178.83 151.76 152.01 150.57 167.22 171.61 164.58 2010 167.21 161.63 159.01 157.66 163.77 152.87 163.92 175.6 205.84 235.7 238.24 250.63 2011 265.29 293.4 290.36 318.7 308.47 310.46 300.8 310.24 296.21 274.78 274.23 258.44 2012 272.85 279.46 280.66 274.21 268.79 267.23 332.95 332.17 320.72 321.63 321.54 308.72 2013 303.29 302.5 309.49 280.27 Coefficient of Variation 51.01% Source: MAG/DC/SIMA. Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment TABLE B.2. AVERAGE MONTHLY PRICES FOR RED MAIZE, ASUNCIÓN MARKET—DAMA, G$/KG Month Year January February March April May June July August September October November December 1993 273 232 225 217 216 213 216 224 220 266 276 285 1994 262 296 300 319 300 300 300 300 289 285 295 299 1995 297 288 290 288 290 290 287 290 279 275 288 290 1996 294 318 325 325 325 325 331 325 337 337 338 337 1997 337 335 341 350 337 337 337 331 338 337 338 337 Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1998 337 337 339 337 337 506 540 532 530 474 385 390 1999 390 390 403 448 435 410 394 366 365 365 365 410 2000 450 450 450 450 452 450 450 455 465 465 465 464 2001 465 465 465 465 465 465 463 465 386 375 389 408 2002 411 429 450 451 451 467 550 587 598 624 722 864 2003 898 819 812 859 921 783 700 686 688 668 655 726 2004 690 576 550 837 984 984 1,000 943 838 871 857 823 2005 850 833 790 850 825 825 750 830 760 767 773 750 2006 740 700 875 800 775 733 800 720 800 778 770 763 2007 800 843 847 800 817 800 800 843 969 967 1,106 1,250 2008 1,111 1,183 1,018 978 947 995 986 983 922 1,033 1,055 1,640 2009 1,520 1,400 1,725 1,515 1,516 1,729 1,745 1,575 1,673 1,531 1,500 1,490 2010 1,000 1,000 1,083 1,700 1,217 1,480 1,085 1,000 914 1,193 1,133 1,129 2011 1,200 1,200 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,583 1,471 1,254 1,292 1,592 1,583 1,475 2012 1,290 1,500 1,754 1,400 1,500 1,450 1,400 1,500 1,289 1,242 1,363 1,243 2013 1,500 1,500 Coefficient of Variation 62.75% Source: MAG/DC/SIMA. 1-73 APPENDIX C MARKET RISKS AND RISK TRANSFER: THE CASE OF SOY As mentioned in chapter 3, the advantages of soy are realized from the differentials (discounts) in relation to several future contracts in Chicago. From the information on differentials to the FAS prices in ports in the Parana River,26 the months for the Chicago contracts were identified in order to define the prices paid for export in FAS conditions (May, July, August, September, November, and January). In table C.1, the May and July contracts are presented as examples where the magni- tude of the price27 changes can be appreciated in a single contract. Therefore, as an example, in 2012, the one who fixed the May contract price at the soy planting date (October 2011) defined a base price of 455 US$/ton, while the one who fixed the month previous to the closing (April 2012) had a base price of 529 US$/ton. The comparison of the Chicago prices for several years also shows significant variation. For example, in the case of the May contracts, the April sales (the ones that approach the spot prices) were done with the following values between 2008 and 2012: 483, 374, 358, 501, and 529. This compares with the lower variability of those who obtained future price coverage at the moment of planting in October (371, 351, 355, 435, and 455). All these variations show that those who have the capacity to buy price hedges and for selecting sales period, have significant advantages to limit the impact of price varia- tions, especially in terms of the input-output price relation for each agriculture sea- son. Without a doubt, small farmers are the ones with less capacity to transfer risks through futures. Large cooperatives, exporters, and so forth can hedge themselves against international price volatility. See the soy futures price comparison in graph C.1 26 Data provided by the Cooperativa Colonias Unidas. 27 In Chicago, these contracts are negotiated with several years’ anticipation, but here we only take some months pre- vious to the commercial cycle given that it is expected that producers and buyers fix the majority of their operations during the months near but previous to the dates in those contracts. Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-75 TABLE C.1. SOY PRICES IN THE CHICAGO FUTURES MARKET* (MONTHLY AVERAGE IN US$ PER TON) May Contract July Contract Month for Price Fixing 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 October ** 371 351 355 435 455 247 354 355 437 458 November ** 399 338 374 465 438 266 341 376 466 441 December ** 435 324 384 489 427 269 328 386 490 431 January 470 368 363 516 446 281 372 366 518 450 February 515 342 348 516 464 300 344 351 519 467 March 500 332 350 500 497 301 331 353 503 499 April 483 374 358 501 529 298 372 361 505 531 May 307 419 351 499 521 June 325 445 349 500 522 Source: World Bank data based on daily market data from Chicago. Note: * A few months previous to the date of each contract were considered (in Chicago the sales have greater anticipation). ** It refers to the months of the previous year. TABLE C.2. VARIATIONS IN SOY DIFFERENTIALS FOR FAS RIO PARANA* (US$ PER TON) Reference Harverst Harverst Harverst Harverst Harverst Harverst Contracts 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 May –72.9 –38.03 –47.33 –36.61 –36.8 –77.42 July –88.42 –22.4 –35.29 –47.62 –34.93 –76.83 August –93 –18 –16.86 –55.79 –39 sd September sd –6 –6 –38.06 34 –73 November –70 –4 0 –44.5 sd sd January –55 –57 –30 –45 –14 sd Source: Information provided by Cooperativa Colonias Unidas. Note: *Puerto Triunfo o Puerto Trociuk. Transport to port costs 11 to 16 US$ per ton. TABLE C.3. FAS RIO PARANA PRICES ESTIMATED FROM CHICAGO PRICES AND DIFFERENTIALS* (US$ PER TON) Reference Harverst Harverst Harverst Harverst Harverst Harverst Contracts 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 May 410 336 311 464 492 441 July 237 423 314 452 487 483 August 460 369 360 444 563 N/A September sd 386 370 463 584 N/A November 269 351 427 401 sd N/A January 264 322 454 375 521 N/A Source: Data from Chicago market and table 5.2. Note: *For the Chicago prices, monthly averages were used for the previous month of each contract; N/A: without data. 1-76 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment GRAPH C.1. COMPARISON OF FUTURES In table C.2, we show the differentials of the differ- SALES IN THE CHICAGO ent months of the Chicago market, in other words, the discounts used to calculate FAS prices in the ports BOARD OF TRADE 550 in Rio Parana. We observe significant inter and intra October - Contract May April - Contract May annual variations. The level and degree of variation 500 of the discounts are related to logistic problems in the country and infrastructure and regulatory issues in US$/ Ton 450 neighboring countries were Paraguayan grains exit for 400 export. 350 From the data on differential and Chicago market 300 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 prices for the various contracts, FAS prices in dollars per ton were calculated and are shown in table C.3. It between October, around planting, and in April, before can be seen again that there are significant differences harvest. Those who can get an advance hedge can reduce between advanced sales and sales during the harvest significantly the price volatility. month. Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-77 APPENDIX D INFORMATION ABOUT PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS THAT INCLUDE RISK MITIGATION ACTIONS Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-79 TABLE D.1. FAMILY FARMING (Continued) 1-80 Financing Executing Sources (US$) Name of the Objective, Beneficiaries Components and Key Unit and Cost Per (Government, Project or Execution and Geographic Coverage Activities (Indicate Risk Institutional Component Loan, Donor, Program Period (Departments) Management Activities) Arrangements (US$) and so on) 1. Family farming 2010–20 Objectives: 1. Organizational capacity MAG through the Government food production • Increase the national 2. Investment Vice ministry of budget: 14.9 promotion production of quality food 3. Technical assistance Agriculture and million (2013) program (PPA) • Promote access to these foods 4. Trade other institutions • Support communities in 5. Program management and socioeconomic activities administration (organization, technology, 6. The benefits of PPA are the production, basic services, access, following: marketing) • Technical assistance for • Improve the incomes of family production, marketing and farmers organization Beneficiaries: • Provision of basic inputs for 1. Family farmers food production (seeds of 2. Indigenous communities autoconsumption crops, small 3. Rural households in extreme tools) poverty; and • transfer of incentives for 4. Other families belonging to the adoption of production family agriculture through technologies organizations • management of community Coverage: services through coordination The entire country. 85,000 with other institutions (water, beneficiaries energy, roads, health, education) Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment Financing Executing Sources (US$) Name of the Objective, Beneficiaries Components and Key Unit and Cost Per (Government, Project or Execution and Geographic Coverage Activities (Indicate Risk Institutional Component Loan, Donor, Program Period (Departments) Management Activities) Arrangements (US$) and so on) 2. Empowerment 2007–13 Objectives: 1. Building and strengthening of MAG • Building and IFAD: Loan of of Rural • Ensure that the rural poor of social capital: grouping project strengthening 12.02 million Organizations the five departments and their activities and actions for the of social capital: Government: and organizations are strengthened, strengthening of organizations. 5.09 million. 2.2 million Coordination with access to productive • Subcomponent for the • Coordination Beneficiaries: of Investment resources and to technical and empowerment of social and of productive 0.25 million Project (Paraguay financial services, including the economic organizations with investments: (an extension Rural Inclusivo— beneficiaries in the national a focus on gender. 7.04 million. of 10 million is PPR) socioeconomic development • Subcomponent of • Policy being processed) process preinvestment in agribusiness dialogue and Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan Beneficiaries: and non-farm opportunities. partnerships: 1. Rural poor households 2. Coordination of productive 0.19 million. who in part are landless investments, including actions • Executing unit: agriculture workers and in part to provide a supply of technical 2.13 million. farmers that belong to weak and financial resources to organizations ensure the development of 2. In some case cooperatives business plans. that have endured difficult 3. Policy dialogue and circumstances partnerships: includes activities 3. 19,000 beneficiaries in total for policy dialogue and • The PPR is implemented in knowledge management for the departments of Caazapa, rural development Caaguazu, San Pedro, Concepción, Guaira. (Continued ) 1-81 TABLE D.1. FAMILY FARMING (Continued) 1-82 Financing Executing Sources (US$) Name of the Objective, Beneficiaries Components and Key Unit and Cost Per (Government, Project or Execution and Geographic Coverage Activities (Indicate Risk Institutional Component Loan, Donor, Program Period (Departments) Management Activities) Arrangements (US$) and so on) 3. Sustainable Rural 2008–13 The objective is to improve the Components: Ministry of Component 1: World Bank: Development quality of life of small farmers 1. Development of local Agriculture and 2.39 million 37.5 million Project and indigenous communities in organizations and training. Livestock (MAG), Component 2: Government: (PRODERS) the project area in a sustainable 2. Extension and adaptive Direccion Nacional 10.18 million 3.86 million fashion, through support research. de Coordinacion Component 3: Beneficiaries: measures that can strengthen 3. Investment fund. de Proyectos 24.89 million 3.39 million community organizations and the 4. Animal health improvement. (DINCAP)/ management of natural resources, 5. Project management, Direccion General Component 4: Other: 2 million increasing the socioeconomic monitoring, and evaluation. del Proyecto (DGP) 4.09 million situation of producers and Component 5: 3.9 communities. million The project promotes an integrated management model that addresses environmental, economic, and social aspects, with a participatory approach, using the microwatershed and indigenous territories as the unit of planning. 16,800 beneficiaries total. The project intervenes in San Pedro and Caaguazu. 4. Agriculture 1979/not Objective: contribute to the A. Sale of machinery, equipment, MAG, DINCAP Funds from the Development defined increase in food production, and agricultural inputs. national budget: Program for the through the sale of machinery, B. Financing socioeconomic 1.8 million Eastern Region equipment and inputs for development projects. (2013) of Paraguay. agriculture, forestry and C. Loan recovery. 2KR fisheries; and the financing of socioeconomic development projects. Supports family farming. 500 beneficiaries per year. Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment Coverage is the entire country. Financing Executing Sources (US$) Name of the Objective, Beneficiaries Components and Key Unit and Cost Per (government, Project or Execution and Geographic Coverage Activities (indicate risk Institutional Component loan, donor, Program Period (departments) management activities) Arrangements (US$) and so on) 5. Modernization 2007–15 Objective: contribute to the The programs searches to MAG, DINCAP a. 16.5 million IDB: 31.5 of the improvement of productivity improve the deficiencies observed b. 10 million million Management and income increase of small in the current ad-hoc agriculture c. 2 million Government: of Agriculture and medium size producers support policies where the 3.5 million Public Supports by doing the following: government provides subsidies (i) increase the adoption rate of based on the provision of inputs, environmentally appropriate with a policy of providing a agriculture technologies with partial subsidy for the adoption of positive economic returns; and improved technologies. (ii) partially and temporarily Components: Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan compensate the drop in incomes 1. Administration and supervision; due to the elimination of supports 2. Support to technology adoption; for the supply of inputs by MAG 3. Direct supports to family farming. and its decentralized institutions. 4. Sustainable 2007–12 (III Objective: contribute to the Components: MAG, DINCAP KfW: €16.8 Natural Resource phase being conservation and rehabilitation of 1. Soil Management: soil million Management negotiated) natural resources and biodiversity, management practices through (donation) Project supporting to stabilize incomes direct planting and use of Government: of rural population in the long green fertilizers in farms; €2.7 million run. (i) introduction of agriculture 2. Forestry management: and forestry management systems introduction of management for small and medium size farms practice for native forests, in selected areas; (ii) financing reforestation, agroforestry incentives for inputs and technical systems, natural regeneration assistance for adoption of soil and implementation of forest conservation measures, agroforestry nurseries. systems, reforestation and forest management. Coverage: departments of Concepción, San Pedro, Canindeyu, Caaguazu, Paraguari, Caazapa, and Guaira. Beneficiaries: 11,500 families (Continued ) 1-83 TABLE D.1. FAMILY FARMING (Continued) 1-84 Financing Executing Sources (US$) Name of the Objective, Beneficiaries Components and Key Unit and Cost Per (Government, Project or Execution and Geographic Coverage Activities (Indicate Risk Institutional Component Loan, Donor, Program Period (Departments) Management Activities) Arrangements (US$) and so on) 3. Inclusion of 2013–18 Objective: contribute to Components: MAG, DINCAP • 15 million IFAD: 10 family farms in increase assets, income 1. Promotion and Preinvestments • 21.6 million million supply chains and quality of life of poor 2. Investments. • 2.4 million Government: project (Paraguay family farmers and the 3. Project administration, 3.5 million inclusive) rural population through monitoring and evaluation. Companies: 3.8 their sustainable inclusion Three criteria are established million through representative social for selecting supply chains: (i) organizations in supply IFIs: 5.2 million potential to include poor family chains with a gender view farms; (ii) to have markets Beneficiaries: and the conservation of the in expansion; and (iii) can 3.3 million environment by doing the demonstrate stable marketing following: (i) strengthen rural channels. organizations; (ii) facilitate the link between family farmers During the design of the project and supply chains; (iii) facilitate four chains were prioritized: access to investment and (i) cassava for starch for export; working capital credit for (ii) sesame for export as grain; family farmers; (iv) promote (iii) sugar cane for organic sugar productive diversification production for export; and (iv) processes, appropriate milk for the domestic market. In technology adoption, increase all of them there are successful production and food security in experiences in their coordination family farms; and (v) increase between family farms and firms in employment opportunities for the supply chain. the rural poor, with emphasis on women and youth. Coverage: Eastern Region. Beneficiaries: 14,500 families (72,500 people). Indirect beneficiaries: 10,000 families (50,000 people) Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment Programmatic lines: The lines of intervention defined LIVESTOCK: EXTENDED as a whole are to promote the strengthening and diversi- STRATEGIC AGRICULTURE fication of livestock and farm production, promoting and FRAMEWORK—2009–18 supporting the dissemination and implementation of best practices and improved technologies under environmen- GENERAL OBJECTIVE tally sustainable conditions as a process targeting farm To promote the livestock and farm production and pro- income, food security, and the improvement of the quality ductivity increase to improve sector participation in inter- of rural life. nal consumption and meet external demand, improving farmers’ incomes. The lines of action are disaggregated thematically under the following components: SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES a) Training and human resources capacity » Train human resources for the livestock farm building development. This component prioritizes training and improving the » Develop and promote research programs targeting technical capacity focused on staff and field agents in improvements in productivity, genetic quality, sani- production techniques, manipulation, preparation, and tary status, and diversification of large and small trade of livestock products and subproducts among livestock. others. » Promote non-traditional farm species for small and medium size producers, addressing the specificities b) Research, validation, and technology of their production systems, in particular of indig- development enous communities. This component prioritizes research and technologi- » Promote the adoption of technologies for trace- cal validation over basic aspects of sector development, ability, food safety, and quality of livestock and such as adequate animal genetics of diverse species and farm production, best practices for management productive lines, animal feeding and nutrition, includ- and manufacturing of final products. ing the use of non-traditional feed, and the development » Promote farm development programs with a sys- and validation of technologies for the maintenance and tems vision considering the role of women, head improvement of the sanitary status of national livestock of households, play in the productive arena, in production. particular with respect to food production for household consumption and the sale of surplus in c) Identification and development of supply the market. chains » Contribute to building a cluster that integrates This component prioritizes the identification and devel- agriculture with livestock production. opment of supply chains that incorporate various live- » Promote the establishment of supply chains that stock species like milk, pigs, goats, poultry, rabbits, fish, include livestock and farm production. and others, based on the availability or capacity of food » Promote the dissemination of intensive systems of production, geographic characteristics, and farm size, in livestock production, rationalizing land use and order to optimize supply chain behavior. increasing the direct and indirect employment generation. d) Promotion of livestock farming » Contribute to the establishment of financing lines This component is set up in order to improve the use of appropriate to livestock and farm production. physical and financial resources to improve competitive- » Promote and strengthen Public-Private Partner- ness supported by the establishment of PPPs, generat- ships for the design of livestock and farm develop- ing employment and income opportunities for farmers, ment plans and programs. adapting to the different productive system characteristics Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-85 who have women as leaders, youth, or indigenous com- » The promotion of agrosylvo-pastoral systems must munities who incorporate their ancestors’ knowledge. address environmental considerations. » The adoption of more intensive cattle production Implementation strategy: The instrument design process under adequate technological standards and the for programmatic lines must address the following basic efficient use of resources and environmental sus- aspects: tainability. » Integration of farm production in the small and » The reintroduction of institutional financing and medium size farms must be done based on existing the permanent technical support at the production supply chains. level of small and medium size farms. 1-86 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment STATISTICAL APPENDIX Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-87 TABLE S.1. SUMMARY OF PRODUCTION AREA, PRODUCTION, AND YIELDS BY DEPARTMENT (AVERAGE 2009–10 TO 2011–12) Area (Has) Cotton Sugar Cane Sesame Tomato Sweet Habilla Locote Maize Peanut Department (F) (F, E) (F) (F) Potato (F) (F) (F) (F, E) (F, E) Concepción 1,156 289 24,937 55 498 1,542 26 9,517 398 San Pedro 2,136 2,296 40,756 72 770 144 102 133,258 3,238 Cordillera 67 6,684 282 74 167 78 18 5,613 1,092 Guaira 524 40,964 210 8 72 97 5 10,252 608 Caaguazu 7,921 15,989 1,431 704 572 462 285 99,118 3,778 Caazapa 5,525 5,434 436 13 103 302 5 39,692 1,738 Itapua 2,782 598 1,392 38 187 875 47 89,228 1,206 Misiones 2,166 2,072 90 15 175 40 5 10,440 320 Paraguari 3,703 21,549 74 94 475 31 43 11,668 1,652 Alto Parana 1,572 297 265 59 255 478 25 217,789 1,624 Central 88 2,993 106 293 742 0 117 917 81 Ñeembucu 1,196 99 74 3 770 4 4 4,904 337 Amambay 0 1,352 2,218 8 128 237 7 33,198 75 Canindeyu 215 5,697 2,206 7 135 251 7 214,884 802 Pte. Hayes 430 38 594 2 99 0 2 350 2,619 Alto Paraguay 0 1 16 0 0 0 1 19 7 Boqueron 44 0 4,074 0 0 0 0 30 5,598 Total 29,524 106,352 79,163 1,447 5,150 4,543 700 880,875 25,172 % 0.59% 2.12% 1.58% 0.03% 0.10% 0.09% 0.01% 17.59% 0.50% Area according to the National Agricultur Census 2008 (Has) Technology/Commercial Agriculture (Has) Family Farming (Has) Production (Tons) Concepción 923 10,536 12,654 1,415 4,759 1,420 202 30,256 218 San Pedro 1,962 87,447 20,682 1,977 7,694 124 935 472,767 2,136 Cordillera 41 332,692 144 2,129 1,060 52 97 7,758 670 Guaira 318 1,881,273 99 164 527 66 25 34,956 372 Caaguazu 6,052 784,445 725 24,661 5,868 429 3,001 362,606 2,496 Caazapa 5,046 284,579 233 409 1,040 221 20 128,746 1,190 Itapua 2,749 21,968 706 801 1,885 616 350 338,761 884 Misiones 1,675 82,668 45 331 1,270 24 34 30,306 181 Paraguari 2,697 1,021,584 33 2,729 3,240 20 295 30,105 974 Alto Parana 1,917 12,209 137 1,958 2,753 389 172 852,941 1,103 1-88 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment Area (Has) Yams Beans Irrigated Canola Sunflower Soy Sorghum Wheat (F) (F) Rice (E) (E) (E) (F, E) (E) (E) Total 10,155 4,669 24 0 119 31,205 300 498 85,390 30,211 8,269 1,890 1,398 3,322 262,935 3,050 7,059 500,907 8,310 3,110 1,600 0 0 1 0 0 27,096 10,232 4,098 18 98 347 12,883 0 4,595 85,012 29,827 10,670 248 7,591 17,203 364,039 720 76,242 636,800 14,722 4,413 13,439 5,319 7,120 138,875 60 71,080 308,276 20,914 6,101 29,559 15,674 29,407 503,648 10,319 179,512 891,487 4,320 2,452 24,840 425 1,103 31,914 1,780 7,048 89,207 14,861 6,046 58 0 0 52 137 0 60,444 12,854 4,129 436 26,207 23,735 791,090 1,250 188,385 1,270,451 1,308 648 436 0 0 0 0 0 7,729 1,936 1,246 0 0 0 0 0 0 10,573 3,785 1,030 93 0 887 128,110 1,050 7,037 179,216 13,362 2,869 51 6,755 12,660 532,822 1,516 40,281 834,520 98 394 0 0 0 0 0 0 4,626 17 5 0 0 0 300 0 0 368 27 389 0 0 0 3,500 1,300 0 14,961 176,937 60,414 72,694 63,467 95,903 2,798,842 24,992 581,736 5,007,911 3.53% 1.21% 1.45% 1.27% 1.92% 55.89% 0.50% 11.62% 100.00% 4,824,173 96.33% 5,800,000 3,800,000 2,000,000 Production (Tons) 118,164 2,989 59 0 132 68,251 1,957 1,061 436,398 4,875 6,406 2,141 4,661 552,533 17,175 17,545 56,173 2,235 7,748 0 0 2 0 0 114,122 2,531 44 150 487 27,404 0 11,886 413,176 8,758 1,070 12,554 27,581 869,400 3,277 189,511 208,658 3,582 72,373 8,743 11,058 315,496 304 183,891 285,687 4,508 154,599 25,443 47,149 1,183,728 58,821 471,337 43,036 1,503 127,514 607 1,990 69,529 10,690 16,732 123,970 4,231 225 0 0 29 642 0 191,114 3,173 1,690 43,344 39,244 1,982,307 7,860 464,437 (Continued ) Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-89 TABLE S.1. SUMMARY OF PRODUCTION AREA, PRODUCTION, AND YIELDS BY DEPARTMENT (AVERAGE 2009–10 TO 2011–12) (Continued ) Area (Has) Cotton Sugar Cane Sesame Tomato Sweet Habilla Locote Maize Peanut Department (F) (F, E) (F) (F) Potato (F) (F) (F) (F, E) (F, E) Central 54 127,024 56 12,412 4,818 0 1,185 1,563 40 Ñeembucu 862 3,399 38 51 5,956 2 19 6,100 172 Amambay 0 42,837 1,116 322 1,231 206 44 110,130 46 Canindeyu 147 190,941 1,261 195 1,696 211 28 770,276 554 Pte. Hayes 342 1,686 297 61 759 0 11 721 3,062 Alto Paraguay 0 28 7 0 0 0 9 32 9 Boqueron 38 0 1,261 0 0 0 0 51 6,716 Total 24,822 4,885,317 39,499 49,615 44,557 3,778 6,424 3,178,074 20,824 Yields (Kg/Ha) Concepción 919 36,717 513 26,617 9,555 921 7,517 3,210 547 San pedro 1,058 38,418 513 26,980 9,993 865 9,115 3,582 660 Cordillera 716 50,212 517 29,279 6,335 662 6,072 1,396 614 Guaira 699 46,329 479 24,841 7,282 681 5,265 3,443 611 Caaguazu 880 49,492 512 34,953 10,252 927 10,213 3,694 661 Caazapa 1,052 52,834 540 28,391 10,077 730 4,529 3,276 684 Itapua 1,138 37,029 513 21,661 10,095 704 7,129 3,834 733 Misiones 891 40,258 500 24,209 7,255 582 7,470 2,931 566 Paraguari 839 47,825 449 29,334 6,816 624 6,977 2,605 590 Alto parana 1,404 41,544 522 43,127 10,798 814 7,654 3,955 679 Central 707 42,816 531 31,882 6,493 0 9,870 1,721 501 Ñeembucu 830 34,706 515 25,438 7,731 499 5,222 1,256 512 Amambay 0 31,953 509 40,593 9,629 870 6,926 3,350 615 Canindeyu 786 33,814 578 23,521 12,574 840 4,509 3,620 691 Pte. Hayes 918 44,716 505 33,545 7,637 0 6,198 2,085 1,169 Alto paraguay 0 26,823 404 0 0 0 7,500 1,675 1,200 Boqueron 995 0 313 0 0 0 0 1,721 1,200 Total 968 29,547 505 34,367 8,652 859 6,490 2,647 827 1-90 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment Area (Has) Yams Beans Irrigated Canola Sunflower Soy Sorghum Wheat (F) (F) Rice (E) (E) (E) (F, E) (E) (E) Total 8,982 414 1,057 0 0 0 0 0 14,372 645 0 0 0 0 0 0 48,616 582 243 0 1,155 305,473 5,320 16,921 191,134 2,279 123 10,759 16,492 1,328,835 7,680 102,169 627 309 0 0 0 0 0 0 116 3 0 0 0 450 0 0 164 198 0 0 0 5,775 6,099 0 2,254,507 42,822 373,153 103,741 149,951 6,705,063 141,237 1,475,489 Yields (Kg/Ha) 11,603 645 2,428 0 1,104 2,204 6,522 2,130 14,404 594 3,400 1,531 1,406 2,118 5,630 2,485 6,741 725 4,857 0 0 2,164 0 0 11,122 623 2,428 1,531 1,406 2,144 0 2,586 13,813 817 4,327 1,653 1,606 2,407 4,551 2,485 14,134 818 5,401 1,643 1,556 2,290 5,067 2,586 13,622 744 5,245 1,622 1,606 2,369 5,700 2,625 9,934 620 5,148 1,429 1,807 2,196 6,005 2,373 8,318 705 3,885 0 0 563 4,692 0 14,826 776 3,885 1,653 1,657 2,524 6,287 2,464 6,846 646 2,428 0 0 0 0 0 7,404 521 0 0 0 0 0 0 12,807 570 2,623 0 1,305 2,403 5,067 2,404 14,264 800 2,428 1,592 1,305 2,513 5,067 2,535 6,406 789 0 0 0 0 0 0 6,684 514 0 0 0 1,500 0 0 6,016 508 0 0 0 1,650 4,692 0 12,706 714 3,727 1,634 1,357 2,414 5,651 2,533 Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-91 TABLE S.2. GROSS VALUE OF AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION Gross Value of Total Value of Production Price G$/Ton Production Production (Price x (Price x Production Crop Average 2010–12 2011 (Tons) Production) G$ Exchange Rate 2012) US$ Garlic 13,553,800.00 222 3,008,943,600 683,851 Cotton 1,800,000.00 28,802 51,843,600,000 11,782,636 Irrigated rice 3,231,000.00 395,998 1,279,469,538,000 290,788,531 Dryland rice 3,231,000.00 4,207 13,592,817,000 3,089,277 Peas - - Sweet potato 812.5 45,405 36,891,563 8,384 Sugar cane 177,500.00 4,209,974 747,270,385,000 169,834,178 Canola 1,716,000.00 110,500 189,618,000,000 43,095,000 Onion 1,744,350.00 4,924 8,589,179,400 1,952,086 Strawberry 9,070,000.00 2,050 18,593,500,000 4,225,795 Sunflower - - Habilla - - Ka’a He’e - - Locote 6,250,000.00 5,302 33,137,500,000 7,531,250 Maize 1,333,727.00 3,079,524 4,107,244,305,948 933,464,615 Yams 653,000.00 1,685,600 1,100,696,800,000 250,158,364 Peanuts 7,323,000.00 11,874 86,953,302,000 19,762,114 Mint - - Potato 2,135,000.00 3,840 8,198,400,000 1,863,273 Beans 3,117,000.00 26,432 82,388,544,000 18,724,669 Sesame 4,463,250.00 27,959 124,788,006,750 28,360,911 Soy 1,872,670.00 4,344,960 8,136,676,243,200 1,849,244,601 Sorghum - - Tobacco - - Tomato 3,237,500.00 45,256 146,516,300,000 33,299,159 Tártago - - Wheat 931,000.00 1,560,599 1,452,917,669,000 3,30,208,561 Carrot 175,000.00 11,686 2,045,050,000 464,784 Banana 2,273,000.00 60,021 136,427,733,000 31,006,303 Coffee - - Lemon - - Tangarine - - Pineapple - - N. Agrio - - Pineapple 955,000.00 56,412 53,873,460,000 12,243,968 Grapefruit 882,200.00 53,120 46,862,464,000 10,650,560 Tung - - Grape - - Yerba mate - - Total 4,052,442,871 1-92 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment TABLE S.3. GROSS VALUE OF PRODUCTION OF SELECTED CROPS FOR THE RISK ANALYSIS Gross Production Value of Family Crop Gross Production Value TOTAL—US$ Farming—US$ Garlic 683,851 683,851 Cotton 11,782,636 11,782,636 Dryland rice 3,089,277 3,089,277 Irrigated rice 290,788,531 Onion 1,952,086 1,952,086 Locote 7,531,250 7,531,250 Maize 933,464,615 140,019,692 Yams 250,158,364 250,158,364 Potato 1,863,273 1,863,273 Sesame 28,360,911 28,360,911 Tomato 33,299,159 33,299,159 Carrot 464,784 464,784 Wheat 330,208,561 Sunflower sd Canola 43,095,000 Soy 1,849,244,601 277,386,690 Sugar Cane 169,834,178 33,966,836 TOTAL 3,955,821,077 790,558,808 98% 20% Percentage of the GVP of selected Percentage of the GVP of the selected products over the total for the country products of family farming over the total of selected products Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 1-93 VOLUME 2 STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN FOR AGRICULTURE RISK MANAGEMENT Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 2-i CONTENTS Acknowledgment 2-v Acronyms and Abbreviations 2-vii Chapter One: Introduction 2-1 Chapter Two: Agriculture Risk Management Framework for Paraguay 2-3 Priority Risks 2-3 Current Agriculture Risk Management Practices 2-4 Priority Solutions from the Risk Assessment and Risk Prioritization 2-7 Expected Impact of the Proposed Solutions on Poverty Reduction 2-8 Chapter Three: Agriculture Risk Management Strategy 2-9 Full Proposal 2-9 Solutions for Animal Health and Food Safety of Livestock Supply Chains 2-10 Strengthening of the Agriculture Innovation System (SIA) for Mitigating Family Farming Risks 2-13 Price Risk and the Development of an Agriculture Commodity Exchange 2-17 Financing Strategy for Agriculture Risks 2-20 Chapter Four: Action Plan 2-25 References 2-41 FIGURE Figure 1.1. Sector Wide Risk Assessment Process 2-1 BOX Box 3.1: Functions of a Cash Exchange vs. a Derivatives Exchange (Both Considered Commodity Exchanges) 2-19 GRAPHS Graph 3.1: Price of White Maize in June, Asunción 2-21 Graph 3.2: Price of Red Maize in June, Asunción 2-21 Graph 3.3: Annual Variation in the Gross Agriculture Value 2-21 Graph 3.4: Drought Risk in Paraguay 2-22 TABLES Table 2.1: Variability of Main Family Farming Crops 2-4 Table 2.2: Losses in Tons, GS$ and US$ per Crop 2-5 Table 2.3: Estimated Costs for the Action Plan for Agriculture Risk Management (US$) 2-5 Table 2.4: Priority Solutions Proposed by the Risk Assessment and Risk Prioritization 2-7 Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 2-iii Table 3.1: Summary of Main Risks 2-18 Table 3.2: Policy Actions for Managing Agriculture Sector Risks 2-23 Table 4.1: Short-Term Plan per Strategic Line 2-26 Table 4.2: Short-Term Plan per Responsible Institution 2-37 2-iv Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment ACKNOWLEDGMENT This report was prepared by the Agricultural Risk Management Team of the Agri- culture Global Practice of the World Bank. The World Bank team was led by Carlos Arce and Diego Arias (Agriculture Global Practice [GFADR]) and composed of Pablo Valdivia (GFADR) and Sophie Storm (Sustainable Development Department of Latin America and the Caribbean [LCSSD]). The following consultants contributed to the work: Jorge Caballero (Lead Consultant), Marcelo Regunaga (Agroindustrial Sup- ply Chains), Carlos Peixoto (Agrifood Supply Chains), Gustavo Picolla (Agriculture Commodity Exchanges), Luis Zarza (Agriculture Innovation Systems), Ricardo Ava- los (Price Risk Management), Jaime Estupiñan (Animal Health Specialist), and Guil- herme Cunha (Livestock Supply Chain). The authors would like to thank the specialists and technicians of the various depart- ments of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock for their valuable collaboration and their participation in the structuring of the findings. Furthermore, special thanks to Raul Ferrari and Celso Gimenez for their practical suggestions and contributions to the technical discussions. The authors would like to also thank the representatives of the various agriculture supply chains (producers, banks, processors, traders, exporters) that contributed their experience and knowledge about their sector to achieve a better understanding of the reality. Anibal Lopez (Economist for Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay), Dante Mossi (Rep- resentative for Paraguay), Jazmin Gill (Economist), Gloria Dure (Executive Assistant), and Rosa Arestivo (Project Assistant) participated in the various missions and discus- sions on the findings. The authors acknowledge the financial support for this study of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Swiss Secretariat for Economic Cooperation (SECO). Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 2-v ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ARP Rural Association of Paraguay MECID-DAR Interinstitutional Departmental BCP Central Bank of Paraguay Coordination Table for Agriculture and CAN National Agriculture Census Rural Development CAT DDO Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option OIE World Animal Health Organization OPS Panamerican Health Organization CBOT Chicago Board of Trade PANAFTOSA Panamerican Center for FMD CME Chicago Mercantile Exchange PNMCRS National Soil Management, Conservation CVP Permanent Veterinary Committee of the and Recovery Program Southern Cone PPA Family Farm Food Production Promotion DAAF Family Farming Directorate Program DEAg Agriculture Extension Directorate PPR Paraguay Rural Project DINCAP National Project Coordination and PRODERS Sustainable Rural Development Project Administration Directorate PRONAFOPE National Livestock Promotion Program DMH-DINAC Meteorological and Hydrological ROFEX Mercado a Termino de Rosario S.A. Directorate SEN National Emergency Secretariat FAO Food and Agriculture Organization SENACSA National Animal Health and Quality FECOPROD Federacion de Cooperativas de Produccion Service Ltda. SENAVE National Vegetable and Seed Health and FMD Foot and Mouth Disease Quality Service FNC National Farmer Federation SETTA Agriculture Technology Extension and FOMIN Multilateral Investment Fund Transfer System GDP Gross domestic product SIGEST Integrated System for Agriculture and GOP Government of Paraguay Rural Development INAN National Food and Nutrition Institute UGR-MAG Risk Management Unit—MAG IPTA Agriculture Technology Institute of UNA National University of Asunción Paraguay VBP Gross value of production MAG Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock VMA Viceministry of Agriculture Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 2-vii CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION The World Bank, at the request of the Ministry of Agriculture and Live- stock (MAG), has been undertaking an assessment of agriculture sector risks in Paraguay. The methodology used includes a two stage process. The first stage, risk evaluation, involved one mission in June 2013, when the most important agriculture risks were identified, quantified, and prioritized in terms of their impact on sector product volatility. As a result, and considering the most important risks given their frequency and severity, a series of possible additional solutions to the ones already undertaken by the various public policies and programs were identified. This is con- tained in volume 1 of the current report. This volume (2) presents the results of the second phase of the sector risk assessment, which addresses the proposal for solutions. In November 2013, the results in volume 1 were presented to the MAG, remembering the need to continue the process to arrive at a strategy and action plan. Therefore, the team pro- ceeded to the second phase to evaluate some of the proposed solutions and prepared an agriculture risk management strategy and action plan. With this objective, at the request of the Government of Paraguay (GOP), a second mission visited Paraguay in March–April 2014. This volume 2 is the result of said mission. In figure 1.1 the process is detailed. FIGURE 1.1. SECTOR WIDE RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS Request Risk evaluation Assessment of Risk - Analsis of solutions management supply chains strategy and Policies - Long list investments - Prioritization of action plan risks according - Gap analysis technical - Short and assistance to frequency - Priority medium and impact solutions term actions of events Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 2-1 The results of the March–April 2014 mission nity was given to compare proposals with public and pri- were presented at a workshop organized by MAG vate sector specialists. The results of this assessment are in Asunción on April 10, 2014, where an opportu- detailed in the next sections. 2-2 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment CHAPTER TWO AGRICULTURE RISK MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK FOR PARAGUAY PRIORITY RISKS28 Agriculture gross domestic product (GDP) in Paraguay is much more volatile than total GDP or than other non-agriculture sectors according to a study by the World Bank.29 Agriculture GDP has varied 12 percentage points since the first quarter of 1994, which compares to 4.7 percentage points of variation of total GDP. The differences in volatility between the agriculture sector and the rest of the economy have increased in the past years due to very severe risk events on crops and livestock. Furthermore, shocks to the agriculture sector also impact other sectors of the economy and cause them to also be volatile in part. The most affected activi- ties are input provision such as machinery, storage, and transport, but also sectors like construction and financial services who suffer from agriculture shocks. Production risks are the most frequent and with greater impact on the agriculture sector of Paraguay, in particular drought. It is estimated that Paraguay losses on average $237 mil- lion every year in production losses or 5 percent of agriculture GDP (1990–2001). The most notable risk given its global magnitude of losses reported in the past is drought. In 2011, the last year when an important drought was recorded, $920 million were lost only in soy. Family farming crops also suffered significant losses: cassava, $94 million or 38 percent of VBP; sesame, $13 million or 46 percent of VBP; cotton, $3 million or 26 percent of VBP. A significant decline in production and exports of soy produces a notable impact on global economic activity and aggregate demand, as it occurred in recent years, but a reduction in food availability among family farmers has a direct impact on food security, leading to requests for assistance and could lead to social instability. Pests and diseases also present important risks to production, although they are generally controlled with chemicals and resistant varieties. But the main 28 See volume 1 for more details on this. 29 World Bank, Growth Volatility in Paraguay: Sources, Effects & Options, 2013. Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 2-3 impact is related to the increase in production costs, which TABLE 2.1. VARIABILITY OF MAIN FAMILY affects especially family farms. FARMING CROPS Market risks also lead to farmer losses. Prices of Coefficient of Production Variation 2010–11 (Tons) export products of family farms, like sesame and cotton, are subject to large variations transmitted to producers, who are Yams impacted by sharp drops in prices. In soy, on the other hand, San Pedro 40% 474,981 farmer prices vary according to the international price and Cordillera 43% 61,140 as a function of differentials (discounts in relation to the Guaira 29% 124,212 Chicago Board of Trade [CBOT]). Enabling environment Caaguazú 30% 449,706 risks are important for the agriculture sector in Paraguay, Caazapá 33% 227,106 given its landlocked situation and given the weakness in Paraguarí 37% 134,930 investments in basic infrastructure and technology. Beans San Pedro 31% 6,062 In livestock, foot and mouth disease (FMD) out- Cordillera 51% 2,780 breaks have had catastrophic economic conse- Guaira 36% 3,147 quences. It has resulted in the almost total paralysis of Caaguazú 23% 10,891 meat exports, losing the very important entry of foreign Caazapá 33% 4,455 currency. Its impact reaches all actors of the supply chain. Paraguarí 31% 5,262 Paraguay suffered two FMD outbreaks in the past years, Source: Authors’ calculations based on MAG data. in 2002 and 2011. Weather risks, like drought, flood, and frosts, also cause important losses to livestock producers. tion and the availability of food for household consump- tion. See table 2.1. This shows the low technology use. The distributional impact of risks throughout the supply chains is varied. The most affected actors The relatively low costs of an agriculture risk tend to be farmers, and the final result is often the increase management strategy (presented in the following in indebtedness and the reduction of investment capital. sections), compared to the high level of historical It can be affirmed that part of the production variations losses, justify its implementation. Table 2.2 shows and losses faced by farmers and other actors of the supply historical losses for the agriculture sector (1990–2001) chain, especially family farmers, but not exclusively, are per crop, resulting in the risk identification in volume 1. the results of non-mitigated risks—in other words, risks Mostly they are losses due to weather variations. Table that can be managed with appropriate agriculture prac- 2.3 shows the estimated costs for each strategic line of the tices, with insurance, with infrastructure investments, and action plan. We see that losses in just one year (US$237 with accurate and timely market information. million) are above the cost for all the actions proposed for years 2014–19. Family farms and their households are the ones most at risk, first due to their initial vulnerability situ- CURRENT AGRICULTURE ation and second due to their low capacity for efficiently RISK MANAGEMENT managing production and market risks, not to mention their low technological level. To change this situation it PRACTICES would be necessary to both change the conditions under Agriculture sector losses due to weather events which small farmers manage risks as well as to modify the are generally absorbed by farmers who have few factors that cause their vulnerability in the first place. mechanisms or instruments for good risk man- agement, especially family farmers. Usually the The high coefficient of variation of cassava and bean main weather problems (like drought) are only partially yields in the departments with the highest concentration mitigated by appropriate management practices (such of family farms demonstrates the variability of produc- as using short-cycle sesame varieties, early planting for 2-4 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment TABLE 2.2. LOSSES IN TONS, GS$ AND US$ PER CROP Total Value of Annual Annual Volume of Losses Average Losses Average Losses (% Crop Period Losses (Tons)1 (Million G$) (Million G$)2 Losses (US$)3 of Ag GDP) Garilic 1990–2011 742 10,053 457 103,850 0.002% Cotton 1990–2011 430,232 774,418 35,201 8,000,188 0.18% Irrigated Rice 1990–2011 145,829 471,173 21,417 4,867,490 0.11% Dryland Rice 1990–2011 15,796 51,036 2,320 527,230 0.01% Sugar Cane 1990–2011 3,483,029 618,238 28,102 6,386,752 0.15% Canola 2007–2011 5,498 9,435 1,887 428,855 0.01% Onion 1990–2011 7,970 13,903 632 143,621 0.00% Locote 1990–2011 8,260 51,624 2,347 533,310 0.01% Maize 1990–2011 1,201,903 1,603,011 72,864 16,560,028 0.38% Yams 1990–2011 2,495,542 1,629,589 74,072 16,834,596 0.38% Beans 1990–2011 59,091 184,186 8,372 1,902,744 0.04% Sesame 2000–2011 39,653 176,980 14,748 3,351,902 0.08% Soy 1990–2011 7,897,436 14,789,291 672,241 152,781,932 3.48% Tomato 1990–2011 52,868 171,161 7,780 1,768,191 0.04% Wheat 1990–2011 684,782 637,532 28,979 6,586,075 0.15% Carrot 1990–2011 19,827 3,470 158 35,844 0.00% Total 21,195,098 971,575 220,812,608 5.02% Source: MAG. 1 Physical losses were calculated as the difference between real yield and the trend value in years when the real value was below 30 percent of the trend value, multiplied by the area in that same year. 2 In order to estimate the value in G$ average prices were used 2010–12. The VAB was used in 2011 at current prices. 3 The average exchange rate for year 2012 was used to estimate losses in US$. TABLE 2.3. ESTIMATED COSTS FOR THE ACTION PLAN FOR AGRICULTURE RISK MANAGEMENT (US$) Estrategic Line 2014 2015 2016–19 Total Solutions for sanitary and food safety risks of 19,883,667 51,296,167 126,905,167 198,085,001 (*) livestock supply chains Strengthening of the Agriculture Innovation System 3,105,000 6,726,500 13,541,500 23,373,000 for the mitigation of family farming risks Price risks and the development of an agriculture 70,000 58,000 128,000 commodity exchange Agriculture risk financing strategy 123,400 874,300 1,067,150 2,064,850 Total 223,650,851 Source: Authors. *This includes every identified action in the gap analysis undertaken by the World Animal Health Organization (OIE). sesame, cotton and soy, and so on). Therefore, most farm- As modern risk management mechanisms are not ers who do not use these practices tend to absorb losses in available, many farmers adopt traditional miti- the long run. The development of irrigation, which could gation measures to manage risks. In organic sugar be considered a good alternative to mitigate drought risk, cane, family farmers adopt weather risk mitigation strate- is limited by the inelastic demand related to energy supply gies such as diversification, including especially the produc- and by the lack of a water use regulatory framework. tion of food for autoconsumption and vegetables that offer Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 2-5 short-cycle advantages. Weather risk mitigation in the pro- Risk Management Unit (UGR) as the one respon- duction of vegetables is quite advanced among commercial sible for providing services to mitigate, transfer, and organized farmers. Here irrigation is well disseminated and respond to sector risks. The main responsibili- as well as the half-shade cover systems. Greenhouses, as a ties of UGR is to produce agro-meteorological bulletins valid instrument for mitigating frosts and hail, are used by jointly with the Meteorological and Hydrological Direc- some of these farmers organized in associations. torate (DMH-DINAC), elaborate risk and land use maps, and work in the formulation of base studies and proposals Pest and disease risk are mitigated in large part for the development of agriculture insurance for family by all farmers, including family farmers, through farming. Furthermore, with the technical cooperation of pesticides. Although it is to be noted that at the level of the Inter-American Institute for Agriculture Cooperation family farmers, results are inferior and costs are higher than (IICA), UGR is developing a project30 of Early Warn- in the commercial farming sector. Furthermore, the pro- ing System, which has an objective to detect and prevent ducers with higher levels of technology are conscious of the pests and diseases due to meteorological events. importance of crop rotation in order to reduce the incidence of diseases, reducing risks and improving average yields. The Federation of Production Cooperatives Ltda. (FECOPROD) has invested close to $1 million in In livestock, drought risk is mitigated by pasture the creation of an information system that oper- reservoirs, feed, and for lower water deficit the ates based on their own infrastructure of agro- use of reservoirs and Australian tanks. As far as meteorological states (23 in total). The system FMD, the most effective mitigation technique is animal allows them to monitor drought indices for each place of vaccination. The audit is done in 100 percent of the herds weather measurement and infer about their impact on above 100 heads, with the ones with less than 100 heads productivity of selected crops. being left to the responsibility of authorized vaccinators. One difficulty that persists is the lack of availability of In relation to risk transfer, the insurance company census data about the bovine population, although annual Tajy is processing a technical assistance project estimations are close to reality. with the Multilateral Investment Fund (FOMIN) to design and implement a weather index-based In terms of risk management for price volatil- agriculture insurance scheme in the San Pedro ity, it was found that there is a limited use of department. This project would have a duration of four futures market (basically only available for com- years (2014–18), and intends to take advantage of the mercial farmers and for some commodities like network of cooperatives of FECOPROD for the distribu- soy, meat, and other grains) and a limited and tion of insurance products. At the end of the project it is untimely availability of market information. expected that risk transfer instruments would be available This lack of transparency results in high transaction costs to more than 15,000 families producing sesame, maize, and higher risk incidence, impacting those actors with less beans, and chia (Balsevich 2014). market power, producers, and especially family farmers. Those who do have the capacity to hedge themselves and Also, with respect to risk transfer, the National choose the selling periods have important advantages for Farmer Federation (FNC) has proposed the crea- limiting the impacts of price volatility, especially relative tion of a Production Guarantee Fund. This fund prices of input-output for each agricultural season. would work through the definition of an agro-climatic index, activating compensatory payments to producers INSTITUTIONAL INITIATIVES FOR AGRICULTURE RISK MANAGEMENT 30 This project has the participation of the following institutions: UGR, DEAg, the Agriculture Technology Institute of Paraguay (IPTA), DMH-DINAC, the Responding to the recurrent exposure to hydro- National Animal Health and Quality Service (SENACSA), the National Veg- meteorological events and their economic etable and Seed Health and Quality Service (SENAVE), UNA, and the Catholic impact, MAG created in 2009 the Agriculture University of Our Lady of Asunción. 2-6 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment TABLE 2.4. PRIORITY SOLUTIONS PROPOSED BY THE RISK ASSESSMENT AND RISK PRIORITIZATION Commercial Farming Family Farming Livestock* Mitigation Improve the information and early Improve the efficiency and Strengthen SENACSA’s control warning system (also benefits family coordination of the existing public services for FMD and other diseases. farming). sector technical services (DEAg, Evaluate the effectiveness of Evaluate the current state of grain IPTA, SENAVE, PPA, and so on) to sanitary services linked to exports transport infrastructure (roads, introduce best agriculture practices, and propose complementary river). improve the monitoring and early policies. detection of pests, disseminate Public policies for export logistics, Emergency strategy for drought appropriate irrigation technologies, negotiations with neighboring and/or frost situations. promote crop diversification, and so countries, and so forth. forth. Transfer Asses the viability of establishing an Create a financing mechanism agriculture commodity exchange, to address weather emergency that could also bring more market situations (insurance-fund). transparency. Develop the agriculture insurance market (more coverage), reaching more producers with a diversity of instruments. Absorption Assess options for responding to Create a financing mechanism Create a contingency fund for catastrophic events with fiscal losses to address weather emergency addressing emergency situations and macroeconomic impact. situations (insurance-fund). when an outbreak of FMD or other disease. * Livestock is listed separately to commercial and family farming because in practice, livestock farmers are exposed to a different set of risks that could be addressed when they are separated from agriculture production risks. localized in the area at risk where losses exceed 50 per- cent. Authorities of the UGR assessed its technical PRIORITY SOLUTIONS and operational viability. However, at the moment, it is FROM THE RISK unknown what the conclusions of the assessment of such ASSESSMENT AND RISK proposal were. PRIORITIZATION31 The priority solutions proposed include risk The National Emergency Secretariat (SEN) is the transfer and mitigation instruments for produc- entity responsible for organizing, coordinating, tion risks, market mechanisms for price hedg- planning, and controlling the activities related to ing, supply of public services for animal health, civil defense and protection in light of a catas- and direct support and response for a more effec- trophe. Although SEN has supported affected farmers in tive risk management by family farmers. Table the past, there are no funds earmarked for the agriculture 2.4 shows all proposals. It is to be noted that the proposals sector. For this reason, many of the emergency response related to commercial farming risks are beyond the reach activities for the agriculture sector have been undertaken by national sector agencies (such as MAG) and with inter- national organizations. 31 See volume 1. Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 2-7 of this sectoral study (infrastructure, logistics) or they are compensatory payments for income loss when risk events already underway by other public initiatives (early warn- occurred (emergency fund, index insurance, and so forth). ing system). The other aspects of the strategy were ana- lyzed and the conclusions are part of this report. In the What is the impact of technological innovation in last chapter, an action plan is presented. the mitigation of risks in the economy of family farms? If we consider the 240,000 producers with less than 20 hectares (defined as family farmers) accounted EXPECTED IMPACT OF THE by the census of 2008, 203,000, 194,000, and 170,000 of them planted cassava, beans, and maize respectively. Fur- PROPOSED SOLUTIONS ON thermore, the three crops are present in most farms, and POVERTY REDUCTION it can be assumed that the mitigated event, say a severe The risks to family farming tend to jeopardize drought, would allow for farmer losses to be reduced from the households’ capacity to generate income and $955 to $265, at least. Therefore, family farms would their already reduced means for investments, have a benefit of $730/farm (($169 million–$45 mil- deepening their food insecurity and poverty situ- lion)/170,000) during drought years in a scenario with ation. An effective risk management strategy through the technological innovation in relation to the current situa- mitigation and transfer/absorption of risks would allow tion of low technology—all this, considering only those family farmers to maintain more stable incomes and crops that on aggregate represent 76 percent of total VBP. improve their welfare during drought periods or through other risk events. Therefore, they would have a more con- The simultaneous implementation of both mech- fident projection to invest in their farms, increasing pro- anisms, technological innovation and income ductivity in the medium term. This would contribute to compensation, could result in an forgone loss of the reduction of rural poverty in Paraguay and to improve an important share of family income when risks the rural economic development. such as severe droughts occur. It has been estimated that the forgone losses could reach 41 percent of gross The proposed solutions include two types of mech- farmer family income. anisms that act directly on the production risks in family farms: the introduction of technological innova- In summary, although the focus is the manage- tions for reducing the exposure to weather risks and pests ment of risks, the ultimate objective is to reduce and diseases and/or limit the impact of these events (drought poverty through income stabilization of family farms, tolerant varieties, appropriate soil management, best agri- placing them in a more advantageous place to be able to culture practices, animal vaccination, and so forth), and plan and invest on their farms and on their human capital. 2-8 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment CHAPTER THREE AGRICULTURE RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FULL PROPOSAL The proposed strategy intends to tackle in an integrated way the causes of agriculture and livestock risk. The risks that have been realized have important impacts in economic growth, public finances, the economy of supply chain actors and food security of the most vulnerable sectors. With respect to weather risks, mainly drought, actions are proposed in various dimensions, and other risks have their own actions. Proposed actions for family farming have an impact for all production and market risks they face. Therefore, risk mitigation at the level of the most vulnerable sectors (family farming), is proposed to be addressed through the development of a more efficient and coordinated Agriculture Innovation System, in order to address the technology and market problems that places family farming in an extremely vulnerable situation with respect to production risks. It is expected that the optimization of agriculture insurance will have positive effects for family farming and other agriculture segments. The improvement of the information and monitoring systems, as well as the development of risk transfer and absorption mechanisms for family farming (contingency fund and index insurance) are especially considered. With respect to animal health risks, the strategy includes measures to protect export markets but also improve local sanitary conditions and food safety. For livestock, risks that have become a great threat for producers of all sizes and for the economy as a whole, a series of measures are proposed with SEN- ACSA at its center, addressing FMD and other important diseases for meat exports and national production. The strategy, however, does not end at the requirement of the external sector, but also at the consequences of a deficient food safety situation for the health of Paraguayans (slaughterhouses for internal consumption with no sanitary regulations for example), proposing a series of actions throughout the livestock supply chains and involving several levels of government. Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 2-9 The strategy proposes the development of an agri- of MAG. According to the OIE evaluations, SENACSA culture commodity to, among other things, miti- has an acceptable performance level (OIE/PVS average gate and eventually transfer market risks. Price performance of 65.5 percent in 2009). However, a series volatility was fund as an important risk which is not easy to of gaps were identified which are necessary to address in mitigate both for large and medium size producers of soy order to ensure the sustainability of the achievements and and of other commercial crops (maize, wheat, and rice), as so that past losses due to sanitary risks are not repeated. well as for family farmers, for which price volatility (interna- tional prices and exchange rate) can determine their survival I EXOTIC DISEASES: FMD, MAD (cotton, for example). This action requires strong institutions COW AND AVIAN FLU in order to have more transparent markets and price hedg- In 2005, Paraguay reached the status of free of ing mechanisms, and can be addressed by the development FMD with vaccination, which was interrupted by of an agriculture commodity exchange in Paraguay. an FMD outbreak in 2011 and 2012. These outbreaks were controlled with the collaboration of the Panamerican The proposed measures are not of easy imple- Center for FMD (PANAFTOSA) and CVP, and the coun- mentation and require a concerted effort between try recuperated the free of FMD status in November 2013. public and private sectors. It is worth highlighting, However, the OIE gap analysis report established that given however, that the annual cost for this strategy is signifi- the inability to determine the exact focus of the FMD out- cantly lower ($223 million over five years) when compared break, it could be possible that there could be some endemic to the actual annual losses of non-mitigated risks—an areas in the country where the virus persists. The OIE cer- average of $237 million (see table 3.1). Although it is not tificate for free of FMD with vaccination requires having to be expected that the entire $237 million of annual a permanent surveillance, prevention, and contention pro- expected losses will disappear with the proposed invest- gram that ensures the absence of viral activity, which in turn ment, it is estimated that the economic return of the invest- guarantees the same status for the countries who buy Para- ment in better agriculture risk management be significant guayan meat and their products. (additional studies for the cost-benefit analysis would be needed for each of the proposed interventions). In the last Paraguay is certified by the OIE with “Insig- chapter, a relatively detailed action plan is presented, indi- nificant Risk” for mad cow disease (EEB),33 but cating responsible entities, required timeframes, necessary there is still a transmission risk. It has the certificate resources, and a basic cost estimate. based on the documentation presented which includes a risk analysis and due to the fact that they have an active SOLUTIONS FOR ANIMAL surveillance system with sampling and a contention and HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY response program. Even though they risk is insignificant, OF LIVESTOCK SUPPLY the epidemiological characteristics of the disease showing long incubation periods, the possibility of transmission CHAINS through feeding and the human health risks, makes it a Paraguay has consolidated its position as an risk that must be addressed. In order to mitigate this risk, important meat (and meat processor) exporter,32 Paraguay must have a good detection and early warning but it is important to ensure its sustainability. The system and prevention and response measures in order to responsible agency for animal health that has allowed for battle eventual cases. this performance is the National Animal Health and Qual- ity Service (SENACSA). SENACSA was created in 2004 as To date there has been no outbreak of exotic an autonomous and autarkic entity under the supervision avian flu from the Asiatic strand H5N1 in the 32 Paraguay went from exporting 27,000 tons of meat in 1994 to 211,000 tons 33 EEB has impacted mainly the UK and other European countries, Japan, in 2010. In monetary terms this represented an increase from $55 million in Greece, and Israel. In LAC cases reported to the OIE have been in Canada exports per year to $920 million. (2002–11), United States (2005, 2006, and 2012), and Brazil (2010). 2-10 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment Americas,34 but a prevention and contention sys- present at varied prevalence rates. In the case of tem is needed for epidemiological surveillance brucellosis and tuberculosis the rates are esti- and elimination of possible outbreaks. The risk mated at 4 percent and 7 percent respectively. of occurrence of outbreaks from other highly pathogenic They produce significant losses by abortion, fertility strands exists, causing potential similar impacts than reduction, milk contamination, and the discarding of car- H5N1. In order to counteract this risk, the majority of casses in the case of tuberculosis. But most importantly countries including Paraguay, and in collaboration with is the issue with public health, given that humans can be the OMS/Panamerican Health Organization (OPS), contaminated by these diseases. OIE and Food and Argiculture Organization (FAO), have elaborated and implemented a good detection and early The absence of a specific updated program to warning system and prevention and response measures to control and eradicate these diseases is the main counteract the eventual presence of outbreaks. The major gap. The major impact of these risks is for farmers and emphasis is epidemiological surveillance and undertaking the population at large. If they are not controlled and simulations to test contingency plans. eradicated, these diseases can bring market restrictions in the future for meat exports and dairy products. As for The PVS/OIE gap analysis of SENACSA identifies PPC, given its sporadic appearance, the requirements the main gaps from mitigating the risks of out- could be met in the short term in order to obtain the free breaks of these diseases which can be summarized of PPC certificate from OIE. The same applies for ENC as follows: an incomplete traceability system, the need to that given the low rates of appearance can lead to achiev- strengthen quarantine activities, the improvement in the ing the free of ENC status in the short term. sending of information to the World Zoonotic Database OIE/(WAHID), and the consolidation and assurance of the sustainability of the animal health services in the medium III LACK OF FOOD SAFETY FOR MEAT to long term. The impacts of these gaps can be potentially PRODUCTS DUE TO DEFICIENCIES very dire. For example, SENACSA has estimated the FMD IN THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL outbreak of 2011–12 at a direct cost of $300 million, on top SLAUGHTER HOUSE INSPECTION SYSTEM of export market losses. The economic consequences of an The risk related to food safety for meat prod- EEB outbreak (if it happens) can be devastating for the sec- ucts is a public health problem that can impact tor and country’s economy. For example, the outbreak in the Paraguayan population at large. Currently, the the United States in December 2003 had an estimated cost possible presence of bacteria such as Escherichia coli of $3,200 to $4,700 million due to export losses in 2004, 0157:H7, Salmonella sp. and Campilobacter sp. can be representing a reduction of 82 percent with respect to the present in meat due to gaps in inspection and control, and previous year (2003) (Coffey et al., 2005). can lead to severe outbreaks of the disease transmitted through food. II PREVALENT DISEASES OF ECONOMIC AND HUMAN HEALTH IMPORTANCE: The main gaps can be summarized as follows: BOVINE BRUCELLOSIS, BOVINE There is no national food safety policy nor mechanisms TUBERCULOSIS, CLASSIC SWINE for inter-institutional coordination; inspection and control DISEASE (PPC), BOVINE RABIES, by SENACSA over national and local slaughterhouses is NEWCASTLE DISEASES (ENC), EQUINE incipient; and the surveillance done by the National Insti- INFECTIOUS ANEMIA tute of Food and Nutrition (INAN) and the Epidemiologi- Bovine brucellosis, bovine tuberculosis, classic cal Directorate of MSPBS in the processing, distribution, swine disease (PPC), bovine rabies, Newcastle and consumption stages is limited. This situation leads to diseases (ENC), equine infectious anemia are food products without quality assurance for national con- sumers and risks for public health through transmission of 34 Other strands of avian flu had outbreaks in Mexico and other LAC countries. zoonotic diseases and transmitted through food. Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 2-11 IV SANITARY AND PRODUCTION RISKS For complying with these objectives of improv- DUE TO LACK OF INTEGRATED ing livestock sanitary risk management, the fol- SUPPORT TO LIVESTOCK lowing strategic lines of action are proposed and PRODUCERS FROM FAMILY FARMS which are detailed in the action plan: Small livestock producers only provide 16 per- 1. Consolidate the compliance and sustainability of cent of total production, but they account for 83 sanitary requirement for the export of livestock percent of the total number of producers in the products according to national and international country, and they are a very vulnerable sector to norms, which not only will contribute to reduce sanitary risks. Given their low technological level and disease risk, but will ensure that Paraguayan meat low levels of capital, small livestock producers are highly be seen as of high sanitary quality worldwide, will exposed to drought, floods, and frosts, as well as sanitary improve competitiveness of meat products and risks. The FMD program reaches these producers with san- subproducts, and will maintain and consolidate itary prevention actions, but not with the necessary tech- the free of FMD status with vaccination, and of nical assistance to reduce production risks. If these needs insignificant risk of EEB. are not addressed, the sanitary programs for eradication of 2. Achieve an integrated approach to animal health FMD and other diseases could fail. The main problem is services in order to cover all diseases of economic the lack of integrated attention by the public services pro- and public health importance. For this it would viding technical assistance and livestock extension. be important to expand coverage of sanitary pro- grams to other diseases such as bovine brucellosis V SANITARY RISK MITIGATION STRATEGY and tuberculosis, PPC, and Newcastle, and the FOR THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR strengthening of basic surveillance, quarantine, The objective of this strategy is to improve agri- and laboratory services. culture sector risk management, including sani- 3. Expand meat inspection services in order to cover tary risks for livestock.35 This improvement requires the slaughterhouses for domestic consumption. the consolidation and sustainability of animal and food According to the gap analysis, the processing safety services, which will also contribute to increase plants under inspection are limited to a few (11 national production of quality livestock products for slaughterhouses for export, 51 slaughterhouses national consumption and exports, improve public health, for national consumption), but there are 350 lo- and protect the environment. cal slaughterhouses that are not inspected. In order to reduce human health risks in Paraguay, Specifically it is proposed to: it is necessary to extend the control and inspec- » Maintain the free of FMD with vaccination status tion of slaughterhouses for national consumption; » Move forward in the eradication of prevalent dis- strengthen the ex ante and ex post inspection of eases of economic and human health importance feed plants for export markets; extend the waste like bovine brucellosis and tuberculosis program to be applied in all products of animal » Reach the free of PPC and free of Newcastle status sources, both for exports and local consumption; » Extend the control and inspection of slaughter- have total and effective control over medicines and houses for national consumption biological products of veterinary use; promote the » Be part of an integrated system that can offer effi- functioning of an integral food safety program cient technical assistance to family farmers throughout the food supply chain; and improve » Consolidate the management and administration the coordination between the Public Health Min- of animal health and food safety services istry and Human Welfare and other institutions related to the livestock supply chain. 35 In order to address the gaps and to achieve sanitary risk absorption, it will 4. Improve the quality of laboratories, increase their be necessary to comply with the recommendations of the PVS gap analysis of functional capacity and strengthen and increase SENACSA undertaken by OIE in 2013. Also, the orientations of the Institu- tional Strategic Plan of SENACSA 2013–18 must be taken into account. the laboratory network. SENACSA’s Laboratory 2-12 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment Directorate is composed of the Disease Program risk management strategy for the livestock sec- Directorate and the Veterinary Diagnostic and tor. The management measures proposed for sani- Food Control Directorate. It has qualified human tary risks and food safety for the livestock supply chains resources, updated facilities, and modern equip- have an estimated cost of $198.1 million between 2014 ment. The laboratory complex has a laboratory and 2018, or an annual average of $66 million. Accord- with a biosafety level NSB3A. The laboratories ing to estimates from SENACSA, the FMD outbreak of need to complete the ISO certification and have 2011–12 had a direct cost of $300 million, with additional the capacity to attend a larger number of samples costs associated with the loss of markets, loss of animals, from disease control programs other than FMD eradication costs, and cost for recovering the free of FMD and from national slaughterhouses. with vaccination status. Another example is the FMD 5. Consolidate the management and sustainability outbreaks in Uruguay and Argentina in 2011, which had of animal health services and food safety in the an estimated cost of $178 million and $440 million due framework of the program for ensuring the guide- to commercial losses respectively. In the event of an out- lines and quality standards of the reference or- break, costs can be larger for just one year compared to ganizations, OIE and Codex Alimentarius. This the five years of risk management costs. implies actions such as the adaptation of the legal framework, improving SENACSA’s performance according to the PVS/OIE evaluation, and the STRENGTHENING OF THE availability of sufficient resources. AGRICULTURE INNOVATION 6. Optimize the provision of technical assistance for sanitary and livestock production for small and SYSTEM (SIA) FOR medium size farmers. Given that livestock for small MITIGATING FAMILY FARMING and medium size farmers is often complementary RISKS to agriculture, at times for autoconsumption, it I FAMILY FARMING RISKS is necessary that the technical assistance and ex- Family farming presents a high and increasing tension services incorporate technological pack- exposure to production risks. Family farms are more ages that address risks in an integrated fashion, than 90 percent of total censused farms in 2008 (241,000 including livestock. It is important to strengthen in total) although they have only 6 percent of the land. the communication and education regarding sani- Traditionally, the main crops produced by family farms tary measures to ensure the active participation of are white maize, beans, habilla, and cassava, as autocon- farmers in the sanitary programs. sumption products, and cotton, sesame, sugar cane, soy, and cassava (sold fresh or to the starch industry) as cash These actions presume the institutional strength- crops. Also, banana and pineapple are the main perma- ening of SENACSA in aspects related to its legisla- nent crops. Regarding livestock, large animals dominate tions, to its program, human resources, financial as reserve value and from the productive standpoint, milk resources, communications, and sanitary educa- production. Only recently have vegetables been gaining in tion and management capacity. Also, it is necessary importance as cash crops for many family farms. to establish a national food safety policy that defines the responsibility of all actors in the livestock supply chains, Contrary to soy and other crops of commercial establishing coordination mechanisms. Finally, the partner- farms, the area planted by family farms has ship with livestock producers must be maintained, in par- remained constant or decreased in some prod- ticular the Rural Association of Paraguay, and expanded ucts during the last decade. Yields, on the other to other producers like the swine and poultry associations. hand, have not had a good performance. The analysis of the evolution of cassava yields, the main autoconsump- The cost analysis of the FMD outbreaks shows tion crop along with beans, shows a decreasing trend from the financial benefits of undertaking a sanitary the 1991–2012 period. Cotton and sesame, both cash Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 2-13 crops for family farms, show varied yields in the short statement is very general and that in many cases a higher term at the national level and a clear, decreasing trend in level of detail will be needed in terms of the techniques the long run. In summary, family farming is stagnant or and the agriculture research background to adapt them to shrinking, both in area as in yields, with a very significant the local conditions of family farms. IPTA should develop lack of public agriculture services (mainly technological a specific research agenda for the generation of techno- innovation) impacting small scale agriculture. This situa- logical innovations adapted to family farming, in particu- tion is critical for the design of institutional strategies for lar to mitigate risks and achieve greater resilience. agriculture risk mitigation that can reduce non-mitigated risks and losses by farmers and supply chains. III ADVANCES AND DEFICIENCIES IN THE SIA The most important risks of family farms iden- The GOP has various ongoing programs and tified during the diagnosis are production risks, projects that have activities related to the man- in particular weather variation. Most of the main agement of some of the risks identified in the family farming crops, like sesame, cotton, maize, sugar diagnostic. Aside from the UGR mentioned above in cane, and vegetables, suffer from severe droughts. Cassava this report, other institutional responses are presented, is relatively tolerant to lack of water and is only affected that although not as specific as the UGR in tackling risks, with very severe droughts. do address production risks of family farmers. II THERE ARE TECHNOLOGICAL Linked to MAG, there are a series of programs and projects OPTIONS THAT CAN MITIGATE that in many ways support family farming and its devel- WEATHER AND BIOTIC RISKS opment. However, program and projects without a single There are a set of techniques and technological hierarchical structure have resulted in a dispersion of invest- practices that reduce the vulnerability to weather ments and initiatives. Programs and projects with external variation. The following stand out, as their implementa- funding depend on the National Project Coordination and tion would allow farmers to mitigate risks associated with Administration Directorate (DINCAP), with the exception weather variability: of the 2KR program financed by Japan which depends » Diversify crops directly on the General Administration and Finance Direc- » Increase soil capacity to store water, requiring torate. The programs and projects financed by the public improving and conserving soils, vegetative cover, budget depend on the Viceministry of Agriculture. The and adequate soil management most important ones are PPA, PRODERS, Paraguay Inclu- » Use cultivars and/or drought resistant varieties sivo, PRONAFOPE, and the National Soil Management, » Use greenhouses and half-shade vegetable crops Conservation and Recovery Program (PNMCRS). The » Introduce irrigation where feasible and with appro- majority of these programs and projects transfer resources priate techniques to beneficiaries, calling them “donation resources,” others » Improve efficiency of water management “non-reimbursable investments,” and others “supports.” The following options were identified to mitigate pest Assuming that these programs and projects do and disease risk: pest monitoring and early warning for a not overlap in terms of beneficiaries, they would timely control. be supporting 220,000 farmers, or 90 percent of farmers below 20 hectares. If one adds the farmers It is important to have a research agenda that supported by DEAg (minimum 20,000), one would be includes adaptive technologies to local context. reaching the totality of family farms. This would repre- Although almost all techniques and technological prac- sent a great achievement in terms of technical assistance tices mentioned can be adopted without major difficul- provided to family farms: In the last census (CAN 2008) ties by family farmers (taking into account that some only 12.4 percent of farms with less than 20 hectares were of them require investments), it is also true that the receiving technical assistance. 2-14 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment The problem, however, is that the quality of extension and agriculture technology transfer system, and the technical assistance being offered by these the Viceministries of MAG, DINCAP, and DGP. projects and programs, and the existing coor- dination among their actions. The quality of tech- This set of institutions and their relationships do not make nical assistance refers to its content of the technological up a real system at present, not even the most basic defini- packages being disseminated as well as its methods and tion of system. In order for them to become a real system, methodologies used to provide technical assistance. The there is a need to improve the efficiency and institutional coordination refers not only to what is needed from the coordination so that they can make the techniques and set of institutions that provide the technical assistance practices available to family farmers, as well as the pests (DEAg and project executing units), but also to what and diseases control measures that would allow them to should exist with other institutions that make up the SIA better manage production risks. The Integrated System for in Paraguay, basically IPTA and SENAVE. There seems Agriculture and Rural Development (SIGEST)36 of MAG to be large deficiencies in both fronts, quality of tech- should be the forum for the development of the SIA. It nical assistance and coordination of actions, given that must be said, however, that SIGEST has not been able to no change is perceived at the productive level in family move forward very much in the establishment of formal farming: As was shown before, its production volumes coordination mechanisms within the agriculture sector and and yields show no increase in the past years, but to the therefore its actions should be strongly supported by MAG. contrary. V STRENGTHENING OF THE An innovation system oriented toward family COORDINATION AMONG THE SIA farming is in need of development. In order to INSTITUTIONS FOR AGRICULTURE achieve a better management of agriculture risks in family RISK MANAGEMENT OF FAMILY farming, what is needed is a strategy that would focus on FARMING improving efficiency and coordination of the SIA, provid- The weak coordination mechanisms between the ing a hierarchy to manage risks associated with weather institutions that would make up the SIA would faced by family farmers, strengthening their capacity to require short and medium term measures for adapt to weather variations; but taking also into account its strengthening. In several cases, it was evident that pests and disease risk for some crops. the achievement of joint activities would involve informal coordination rather than formal coordination mechanisms. IV THE SIA AS A PRODUCTION RISK Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to establish and/or MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR strengthen the inster-institutional coordination mechanisms. FAMILY FARMING The main components of the SIA are the insti- A first measure could be the establishment of a tutions responsible for generating knowledge, working group with representatives of the dif- the institutions responsible for transferring this ferent institutions. Resolution No. 356 of MAG of 14 knowledge to final users, and the institutions October 2008 ruled the operation of SIGEST, allowing that determine the policy framework for the the creation of working groups, “which would be inte- appropriate functioning of the system. Techni- grated by the entities that are formally involved” (MAG cal assistance received by family farmers depends almost 2008a). It is therefore proposed that a working group be exclusively from the public sector. Therefore, it is the established as a short term measure, composed of IPTA, public extension and agriculture technology transfer sys- SENAVE, SENACSA, Viceministries of MAG, and tem that must fulfill, to a great extent, this function of transferring the available technological knowledge to fam- 36 SIGEST was created in 2008 as an inter-institutional entity for supervising, coordinating, and evaluating the sectoral operations, a “management mecha- ily farmers, transmitting their demands back to research nism that integrates, is participatory and rationalizes the institutional effort of institutions. Therefore, the institutions involved in the SIA the government over a territorial approach, efficient organization and sustain- are IPTA, SENAVE, SENACSA, the public agriculture ability” (MAG 2008(a)). Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 2-15 DINCAP, which would have as an objective the coordina- VI IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF tion of these institutions in order to undertake actions of SIA FOR AGRICULTURE RISK generation and dissemination of technological knowledge MANAGEMENT OF FAMILY FARMING that would allow family farmers to improve risk manage- Beyond improving the inter-institutional coordination, an ment. The Viceministry of Agriculture, a component of increase in efficiency is required for providing public tech- SIGEST, could represent DEAg, PNMCR, and PPA at nical services in research, extension, and technical assis- the working group, or would delegate on them the par- tance, and the plant health control. ticipation. Also, it is important to ensure the participation of projects and programs with external funding, which IPTA. Agriculture research has not received a would be represented by DINCAP. This working group budgetary allocation according to the impor- would need to approve the action plan below as a first step tance of the agriculture sector of Paraguay. The and detail the chronogram of activities. The compliance general picture is very scarce in terms of technology gen- would be monitored by the Technical Group of SIGEST. eration, and even more in family farming. IPTA should develop a specific research agenda for the generation of With regards to the technical assistance services, technology innovations adapted to family farming and the coordination between DEAg and PPA is also that contributes to production risk management. to be done in the proposed working group. It is important to coordinate projects and programs with Improving IPTA’s efficiency to support risk man- external funding as they also target risk management for agement in family farming requires the strength- family farms, like PRODERS. This would also be a func- ening of the institution, in particular reaching tion of the working group. the research-extension complex. The proposed strategy for improving the efficiency of IPTA involves sev- At the territorial level, the SIGEST started in eral actions that should be faced jointly: 2012 with an experience creating the Interinsti- » Determine a research agenda for generating tech- tutional Departmental Coordinating Table for nologies adapted to family farming, contributing to Agriculture and Rural Development (MECID- the management of production risks DAR). The experience has been successful, but up to now » Strengthen human resource by training existing only four departments have implemented these Tables. researchers and hiring new young researchers and The proposal is to implement these tables in the rest of train them at the highest level the departments, at least in the Eastern Region, and to » Supply the Research Center in Cacupe and the strengthen them. Experimental Field of Chore with infrastructure and equipment so that they can generate technolog- Furthermore, the experience by SIGEST has ical information for family farming crops (intensive shown that the absence of a hierarchy between crops in the former and extensive crops in the latter) MAG and the autonomous agencies (for example » Improve information and communication tech- IPTA) limits the possibilities of consolidating nology services and establish a system for captur- priorities in a more efficient way for the develop- ing technology demands to improve internal and ment of technical assistance programs. In order to external connectivity improve the institutional performance of the agriculture public sector, MAG needs to play a leadership role based The public agriculture technology extension and on legal and regulatory attributions, and place itself in a transfer system is composed of DEAg, PPA, and strategic position to lead the agriculture and rural devel- PNMCRS. Starting in the 1990s, a process of decay of opment strategy. In order to do this, a law is required: The DEAg begun, which was due to several reasons: lack of autonomous agencies are a set of institutions which differ- resources for field operations, drain of technicians to the ent laws of origin, and therefore it is important to pass a private sector and universities, constant reduction in training law that puts them in direct relationship with MAG. actions, and update of technical staff. On the other hand, 2-16 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment there is no evaluation of the efficiency of actions by PPA. » Supply the program with computer equipment for The approaches for the technical assistance supplied do not the mapping of soils, GPS, samplers, topographic seem to be very different from the ones used by DEAg. equipment, and so forth » Supply inputs for demonstrative plots Recently, several documents were prepared with » Develop a training and update program for recommendation for the strengthening of the PNMCRS staff and DEAg and PPA extension public extension services and technical assis- agents tance, comprising of the following activities in relation to DEAg and PPA: SENAVE is the institution in charge of protecting, » Establish a program with periodic events for the maintaining, and improving the phytosanitary training and update of extension agents condition and quality of food products of vegeta- » Undertake training in areas of higher manage- ble origin, and the dissemination of best agricul- ment for the heads of CDAs and ALATs in order ture practices. It is also in charge of controlling the use to achieve better service management of agriculture inputs subject to regulations. The strategy » Establish a public career path for extension agents for strengthening SENAVE for the management of risks » Improve the budget allocation in order to guaran- for family farming is based on the strengthening of its pest tee mobility in the field by extension agents and disease prevention, control, and eradication services, » Use new models of training of technicians and and the compliance with phytosanitary and quality norms farmers, promoting the training of trainers, water- of fruits and vegetables entering the country, as well as the fall training, and the methodology of farmer to shipments for export. It involves the following activities: farmer technology transfer » Structure and implement a training program for » Adapt the methods and means for rural extension to the levels of directors, managers, and technical staff the particular situation of users, upscaling the use of » Strengthen the laboratory services for prevention, new technologies like information and communica- control, and protection of plant health and quality tion technologies (ICTs) as a way of reducing costs » Establish an joint action program with institu- » Experiment with different extension methods and tions linked to SENAVE to improve its institutional methodologies in order to better address the farm- mandate, focusing on family farming ers’ demands and adapt to changing situations The cost of developing a strategy to mitigate The PNMCRS is a transversal program that family farming risks is very low considering the should play a fundamental role in the training of potential benefits. It has been estimated that the cost of technical staff from different programs and pro- the proposed measures for the strengthening of the SIA is jects in soil management and conservation. It has, $23.4 million in total, or an annual average of $4.7 mil- therefore, strategic relevance for agriculture risk manage- lion between 2014 and 2018. ment in family farming. The role that PNMCRS has had in the dissemination of conservation practices and train- PRICE RISK AND THE ing has been very important and recognized, and has DEVELOPMENT OF AN been limited by the lack of human and material resources. Its strengthening is necessary and fundamental within the AGRICULTURE COMMODITY risk management strategy. EXCHANGE I THE PRICE VOLATILITY PROBLEM OF The strategy to improve the efficiency of PNM- AGRICULTURE COMMODITIES CRS includes: The price variations are a normal characteris- » Incorporate low-scale equipment and machinery tic of agriculture markets; however, when these for family farming that can be made available to are significant and unpredictable, they can nega- municipalities tively impact food security, the economy of rural Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 2-17 producers, and even the overall economy of a TABLE 3.1. SUMMARY OF MAIN RISKS country. Since 2007, international prices of agriculture Summary of Commercial commodities have been experiencing drastic variations, Product Farming Risks impacting mainly basic staples with a high correlation Soy, maize, and wheat Export price volatility is a relevant with international markets. The factors that have caused risk for the soy cluster as well as these variations since 2007–08 are structural (changes in variations in exchange rates. demand and supply) as well as temporary. One of the main Soy Seasonal and interannual variability causes of this increase in price volatility of agriculture of differentials (discounts in relation products in international markets has been the increase to Chicago) are a risk for soy. in production in zones more vulnerable to weather varia- Maize The variability of the price in tions (in particular the Black Sea Region). Brazil is transmitted directly to Paraguayan farmers. Nevertheless, the concern for mitigating the Summary of Risks to Family increase in volatility of agriculture prices is Product Farming not new. The creation of the CBOT in 1848 and the Sesame Sesame is an export product subject to international price variation. launch of the term contracts in 1851 was the consequence There has been strong variation in of the same logic, trying to implement tools to mitigate producer prices during the period price risk. Since then, numerous agriculture commodity 2003–04 to 2008–09, and then exchanges were created in South America and the rest of annual prices became relatively the world. Derivatives became an efficient instrument to stable. The drop in prices is hedge against price volatility, and the exchange being the translated to producers. place to trade them. Cassava The price reference in the medium (autoconsumption— term is the international market. but 70 percent; sold as the short term variations are impacted Price volatility both for commercial and family fresh—20 percent; by local supply and demand of fresh farming was identified as one of the most impor- and for industry— cassava. It is a risk for the industry tant risks. All of the market risks are summarized in 10 percent) that needs to supply itself locally when table 3.1. the price of fresh cassava is high. The reduction in the availability in the In general, price hedging in institutional mar- local market due to sales to Brazil, kets does not exist at the level of producers. For taking advantage of price differentials, impacts the industry and increases the the management of these risks, currently, forward con- price for consumers. tract are only done for soy where farmers can fix their Soy Given the high level of prices, price at any moment. Prices are set taking the CBOT ref- variability is not a big problem for erence price, from which a discount is deducted (differ- large scale producers, but can have ential) which is informed daily by the multinational firms a significant impact on family farms operating the market. For wheat and maize, the contracts and cooperatives. The variation in are spot. Furthermore, family farmers make the sale spot the exchange rate can also amplify these risks—the appreciation of in situ. On the other hand, the multinational firms and the exchange rate between the the intermediaries do use these market to hedge their purchasing of inputs and the sale of exposure to price volatility. Therefore, in Paraguay there the product. is no installed capacity for managing market risks in that Cotton Price volatility: The industry transfers there is a lack of information on international and local price variations to producers. prices and volumes on supply and demand. Variations in the exchange rate impact mainly producers. In terms of the legal base, in order to move forward in establishing formal and universal 2-18 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment mechanisms for hedging agriculture price vola- BOX 3.1. FUNCTIONS OF A CASH tility, Law 1.163 establishes the regulation over EXCHANGE VS. A DERIVATIVES commodity exchanges. However, for now, there is EXCHANGE (BOTH CONSIDERED no action take for the development of an agriculture COMMODITY EXCHANGES) commodity exchange. The formal name of the stock exchange, “Stock and Commodity Exchange of Asun- A cash exchange: The main functions are to bring physi- ción SA.” Although the word “commodity” appears cal spaces for the negotiating and trading of commodities; in the name of the exchange, there has never been an supply a transparent and legal framework for the parties to operate; provide price, fees, quality, and quantity infor- operation on commodities nor the current bylaws of the mation services; have the authority to resolve differences exchange allow for it. The Stock Exchange’s strategy is between parties; organize and dispose of the functioning only to assess the possibility of agriculture derivatives of laboratory services to certify quality of the samples of after the successful launch of the exchange rate derivative the merchandise being traded; intervene in representation which is currently being under analysis. The launching of of its members. an exchange rate derivative would benefit the agriculture Derivatives exchange: It is better known as Futures and sector as exchange rate risk was observed as a risk for cer- Options Market, and is a private entity whose objective is tain agriculture commodities. to organize, register, guarantee, and liquidate the negotia- tion of futures and options contracts. A futures and options exchange arises to improve the trading practices of its II JUSTIFICATION FOR A PRICE RISK members throughout the supply chain. These exchanges MANAGEMENT STRATEGY make it possible to negotiate contracts with different type The price risk management strategy to be of objectives: risk coverage, arbitrage, speculation. The adopted would involve the supply of tools to fundamental purpose of the derivatives exchange is to farmers to transfer risks for those who are not guarantee all parties the fulfillment of the obligation, there- fore eliminating the counterparty risk. able or willing to absorb them. This is comple- mentary to the proposals put forward in previous section The functions and economic benefits of the derivatives regarding the mitigation of production risks. Therefore, exchange for the agriculture and financial sector (as well the strategy would be composed of the following pillars: as for the parties operating them) are: risk hedging (opera- tors that own or will own an asset which has a great deal » Provide market transparency to reduce transaction of volatility); risk profitability (searched by those who want costs and the impact of risks (both production and to obtain a financial difference); risk transfer from those market risks) in particular for those with less mar- operators who want to cover themselves; price formation; ket power, family farmers power balance between actors; dissemination of market » Establish the necessary instruments to transfer information, promoting competition. price risk volatility to market operators willing to Although the cash exchange does not take on counterparty take on the risk risk, the derivatives exchange does. Therefore, the latter » Ensure the existence of installed capacity in order must incorporate within its institutional structure an office to generate and use market information in order to or unit that is in charge of the clearing and administration operate price risk transfer instruments of guarantees with the goal of ensuring that all registered contracts can be paid in full. This can be done by an inter- The strategy proposes the development of an nal unit within the exchange or through an independent institution known as a clearinghouse. agriculture commodity exchange (see box 3.1). The commodity exchanges (cash markets) are institutions where contracts are negotiated for the physical trade of goods. In other words, what is traded is the right to access It is common to see an erroneous concept of agriculture a certain product on a predetermined date (immediate commodity exchanges. Generally, there is a misunder- or future). These types of contracts are not standardized. standing that agriculture commodity exchanges are only This is why any agriculture commodity could be traded at for large farmers, excluding the small producers who do the exchange. not have access to them due to the small volumes. An Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 2-19 agriculture commodity exchange serves the commercial objective the design and implementation of a busi- interests as significant volumes could be traded at once, ness plan as well as the design of the bylaws and but it can also be a place were small producers from family internal regulations. The working groups should farming reduce their risks as it is shown by the cooperatives be composed of members that can support the in Brazil and Argentina participating in them. The access work needed for its establishment. mechanisms for small farmers are through their producer 3. Design a business plan. The business plan should associations in order to reach scale and training to be able contain at a minimum: a work program with to follow the norms and requirements. These cooperatives precise objectives; a strategic plan to define the can then negotiate and trade at the exchange on behalf of commercial aspects linked to the project; and an their members. This is how the exchange facilitates the sale organogram with functions. or hedge to farmers. This is why alongside with the estab- 4. Establish the projected cash flow. lishment of the exchange it is important to put in place a 5. Develop the bylaws and operating regulations. The capacity building program to transfer knowledge to these working group should write the bylaws and operat- farmer associations and cooperatives so that they can trade ing regulations for the functioning of the exchange, at the exchange in representation of its members. and the organization and operation of each con- tract. The bylaws should regulate the different bodies and authorities; the requirements and ac- III STRATEGIC PROPOSAL FOR tivities, restrictions and responsibilities of traders; THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AGRICULTURE COMMODITY and audit and control systems, among others. EXCHANGE (CASH AND DERIVATE 6. Finally, the launch. It is recommended that de- EXCHANGE) tailed activities be established in order for the ex- The process for the development and implemen- change to active from day one. An international tation of an agriculture commodity exchange seminar could be used to share experiences with should start with a feasibility analysis about the functioning and launch of new contracts and which commodities and instruments could be exchanges and for allowing local stakeholders to introduced for the launching of operations, clarify doubts before the launch. including planning of necessary actions for the start-up. The launch of an exchange with series of The cost for the establishment of an agricul- products and successful instruments is very important to ture commodity exchange can be considered low generate the trust in the market and thus attract further given the high volatility of agriculture prices in commodities and actors. This then allows the develop- Paraguay.37 Graphs 3.1 and 3.2 show the price behav- ment of more instruments (cash or financial). Here below ior of white and red maize in the Asunción Market. The are a series of actions that could be undertaken: coefficients of variation in both series is relatively high, 1. Develop an integrated proposal for the establish- 51 percent and 63 percent respectively, indicating a high ment of an agriculture commodity exchange (cash level of volatility, resulting in losses to producers of both and derivative). The proposal can contemplate at commercial and family farming. The estimated cost of the minimum the following work: examine the current above proposed measures is $128,000. legal framework to identify the existence of regu- lation; analyze which products and type of con- FINANCING STRATEGY FOR tracts could be negotiated; design the model for AGRICULTURE RISKS the commodity exchange that is most appropriate Volatility of Agriculture GDP in Paraguay is for Paraguay; determine the level of investment related to the overall economic volatility (see required to launch it; and estimate the financial graph 3.3). The determinant factors of this volatility in viability of the exchange 2. Establish a working group composed of the pub- lic and private sectors. This would have as an 37 See volume 1. 2-20 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment GRAPH 3.1. PRICE OF WHITE MAIZE IN GRAPH 3.3. ANNUAL VARIATION IN THE JUNE, ASUNCIÓN GROSS AGRICULTURE VALUE 4,000 50% GAV Agriculture + Livestock 3,500 40% GAV Total 3,000 y = 116.66x + 373.03 30% 2,500 R2 = 0.7169 2,000 20% 1,500 10% 1,000 0% 500 –10% 0 19 3 19 4 19 5 19 6 97 19 8 20 9 20 0 01 20 2 20 3 04 20 5 20 6 20 7 08 20 9 20 0 11 12 –20% 9 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 19 19 20 20 20 20 Source: DAMA and MAG. –30% 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011* 2012* Source: DAMA and MAG. GRAPH 3.2. PRICE OF RED MAIZE IN JUNE, ASUNCIÓN 2,000 I A RISK FINANCING STRATEGY FOR 1,800 FAMILY FARMING BASED ON RISK 1,600 LAYERING 1,400 There are no formal and integrated mechanisms y = 73.165x – 11.984 1,200 R2 = 0.832 for financing public sector assistance to family 1,000 800 farmers facing extreme weather events such as 600 severe droughts. On the contrary, faced with these 400 events and pressured by demands from impacted house- 200 holds, MAG has tended to put in place reactive measures 0 that have not been planned to provide support to those 19 3 19 4 19 5 19 6 97 19 8 20 9 20 0 01 20 2 20 3 04 20 5 20 6 20 7 08 20 9 20 0 11 12 9 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 affected farmers. These compensatory actions tend to be 19 19 20 20 20 20 Source: DAMA and MAG. very costly for public finances as the resources are often taken from other programs in implementation, reducing the agriculture sector are the risks related to weather vari- the impact of the programs that are cut. Furthermore, ables (mainly drought) and the animal health risks (FMD). the measure does not identify the eligible population in an ex ante fashion, so the assistance arrives late, in an insuf- The tax base related to agriculture production and trade ficient quantity, and subject to political pressures. is small in Paraguay, but the government incurs significant expenditures in order to respond to sector emergencies. The best way to finance agriculture risks is According to data from 1999 to 2012, the GOP has spent through a financing structure based on simultane- at least $200 million on emergency assistance programs ous instruments, designed to cover more efficiently supporting family farmers (debt forgiveness, freezing of the various risk layers according to their fre- interest rates, and refinancing of loans, distribution of quency and severity. This risk financing methodology production kits, Agronomic Certificates, and so on). This allows them to establish integrated coverage and maximize is why the GOP has the opportunity to improve the effi- the financial efficiency, as well as providing transparency to ciency of public expenditures and reduce the agriculture the public administration and achieving a higher degree of sector volatility through a better financial structure for effectiveness in terms of ex-post emergency assistance. public expenditures to respond to sector risks, in particu- lar catastrophic events that have a negative impact in the For example, the establishment of an emer- most vulnerable population. gency contingency fund can be combined with the Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 2-21 GRAPH 3.4. DROUGHT RISK FINANCING IN PARAGUAY Source of financing 900 Weather hedge Transfer (derivative) Expected losses (US$ millions) 700 CAT DDO (contingent line of credit) 600 Retention Budget allocation 200 Retention by sector / Producer Low High frequency frequency Source: Authors’ estimates. implementation of a weather coverage and other that could be used is an index-based instrument, where tools. For example: Frequent events (frequency less than 1 premiums are linked to the frequency and severity of the in 5 years) should not be financed by such fund (risk absorp- event. But in case where the insurance contract is not cost- tion layer). For the next layer (events between 1 in 5 to 1 in effective for the government, the indexes could continue 10 years) losses could be supported by the Fund and/or con- to be used, while the government absorbs the risk as the tingency credit. Finally, for severe events (more than 1 in 25 option of not doing anything would be too costly as well. years), risk transfer instruments could be used. For this last layer, severe droughts could be covered, taking into account Various factors have played against the estab- that drought has also an important impact in family farms, lishment of an integrated risk financing system the agriculture sector, and the economy as a whole. as described above. Among the more common ones are: (i) UGR, as specialized public entity in agriculture The lower risk layers could be (as they are at risk management, has a very limited capacity in terms present) financed by resources from farmers of human technical resources (only four staff); (ii) there and budget allocation that the GOP could do is low availability of public sector budget, impeding the based on annual budgets. For the middle risk lay- improvement of the generation and transmission of ers, the GOP could absorb the cost and risk, but ide- data and identification of potential beneficiaries in pri- ally through contingency lines of credits (such as the ority areas; (iii) the hydro meteorological equipment is Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option [CAT DDO]). very limited at the national level (146 points for a surface Contingent credit lines allow a quick financial response of 406,752 km2); and (iv) a low level of inter- and intra- after the event occurs, without having to wait for the institutional coordination. approval of extraordinary budget resources. Finally, for the most catastrophic events, risks can be transferred to international markets through derivatives or insurance. II STRATEGIC PROPOSAL (See graph 3.4.) All the financing instruments (weather The proposal is to have an integrated risk financ- derivatives, CAT DDOs, and budget support) are avail- ing structure that is sustainable for transferring able from the World Bank. and absorbing agriculture risks that impact public finances, as described in point I. A PPP scheme would For systemic events such as drought, one could be applied and the financial structure would be transparent, think about the need to distribute payments in creative, and in constant innovation. The beneficiaries will a quick fashion to compensate farmers and ena- be family farmers registered in the National Family Farm ble them to get back on their feet. One instrument Registry. The strategic lines would be as follows: 2-22 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment TABLE 3.2. POLICY ACTIONS FOR MANAGING AGRICULTURE SECTOR RISKS Policy actions Legal Evidence Indicator Animal Health and Food Safety Expand the inspection and control of Law/decree defining the responsibility of Increase the control and inspections at slaughterhouses for local consumption the different supply chain actors for the slaughterhouses for internal consumption control and inspection of slaughterhouses and the coordination mechanisms between the Health Ministry and SENACSA Agriculture Innovation System for Family Farming Establish a coordinating entity for family Decree creating the working group on Meetings and inter-institutional farming risks family farming risks at SIGEST. agreement from the participants of SIGEST’s working group. Approve the budget of SIGEST’s Resolution of the Ministry of Finance Minutes of meetings of SIGEST institutions in a coordinated fashion with mandating the approval of the budget of approving the budget of its members MAG’s participation SIGEST institutions under consensus Strengthen regional risk coordination for Decree formalizing the Departmental Minutes from the Departmental Tables of family farming Coordination Tables SIGEST Price Volatility Approve a new regulatory framework Law/decree establishing the differences Increase in the volumes trade in the cash for agriculture commodity exchanges between the different exchanges market at the exchange. differentiating between cash and derivative markets Approve incentives for the actors of the Law/decree providing fiscal incentives, Increase in the volumes trade in the cash sector to trade at the exchange linkage to credit and public purchases at market at the exchange. the exchange Risk Financing Establish a contingency risk financing Law/decree approving an institutional Number of family farmers covered mechanism for family farming against contingency risk financing structure against catastrophic weather events (such catastrophic weather events (such as for multiannual, multilayer support to as drought) drought) family farming (insurance, derivatives, contingent credit lines, and ex-ante budget transfers) Ensure that agroclimatic information is Inter-institutional agreements to share Number of signed agreements and data shared among institutions that gather the agroclimatic information among private shared data and users and public networks 1. Increase the knowledge of the public and private PPP to face the impact of risks in an efficient way, sector technical staff in the area of risk manage- in particular for family farms. ment in order to promote the necessary qualifica- Institutional measures and policies for agricul- tions and the incorporation of risk issues in the ture risk management: Proposal institutional working agendas. 2. Achieve access to historical data and required in- Table 3.2 shows some recommendations in terms of formation for the analysis and quantification of policies needed for sustaining the proposals contained in risks. previous sections. 3. Design and implement an integrated risk financ- ing strategy for the agriculture sector through a Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 2-23 CHAPTER FOUR ACTION PLAN The activities in this action plan are presented by strategic line (first table) and per institution (second table), and the costs are disaggregated per year. Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 2-25 TABLE 4.1. SHORT-TERM PLAN PER STRATEGIC LINE (Continued ) 2-26 Responsible Strategic Line Action Institution Period Resources Cost (US$) Sanitary and Food Safety Risk Solutions for Livestock Supply Chains A. Strengthen A.1 Update and strengthen the quarantine system SENACSA and ARP 2014–16 Personnel, equipment 10,600,000 international trade completing the border posts (scanner, computer hub) capacity A.2 Review, update, and complete the traceability SENACSA and ARP 2014–18 Consultants, seasonal 11,960,000 system for cattle and other species workers, equipment and materials A.3 Integrate a traceability plan for meat and SENACSA and ARP 2014–18 Consultants, seasonal 2,350,000 milk products workers, equipment, and materials A.4 Improve the transparency of reports to OIE SENACSA 2014–15 Studies 150,000 and interested parties A.5 Maintain and expand the sanitary agreements SENACSA 2014–18 Meetings, studies, and trips 200,000 for the export of meat products A.6 Comply with requirements for the recognition SENACSA 2014–18 Studies 150,000 of free border areas A.7 Continue with the active surveillance of SENACSA 2014–18 Sampling 3,000,000 FMD, EEB, and IAAP. A.8 Consider the building of quarantine stations SENACSA 2017–18 Studies 100,000 B. Expand and B.1 Review and update action plans for control SENACA and ARP 2015 Consultants and studies 150,000 strengthen the and eradication of bovine brucellosis and animal health tuberculosis, PPC, and Newcastle capacity B.2 Review and strengthen the field network and SENACSA 2015–18 Staff, trips, materials 69,850,000 distribute and integrate human resources according to regional and local needs assessed: Minimum of two veterinarians and four professionals per Unit Zone. B.3 Supply Unit Zones with equipment and SENACSA and ARP 2015–18 10,000,000 materials B.4 Improve passive and active surveillance for SENACSA, local 2015–18 Trips, materials, and 750,000 diseases of economic and human health commissions communication and importance, expanding the participant network, education and including inspection data before and after in packing houses and slaughterhouses Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment Responsible Strategic Line Action Institution Period Resources Cost (US$) Sanitary and Food Safety Risk Solutions for Livestock Supply Chains B.5 Implement specific programs and systematize SENACSA, ARP and 2015–18 Travel, materials training, 500,000 control and eradication of bovine brucellosis local commissions and communication and and tuberculosis sanitary education B.6 Implement a specific and updated program SENACSA and swine 2015–18 Travel, materials training, 500,000 for the control and eradication of PPC to producer associations and communication and achieve free of disease status sanitary education B.7 Implement a specific and updated program SENACSA and 2014–15 Travel, materials training, 500,000 for the control and eradication of Newcastle poultry farmer and communication and to achieve free of disease status associations sanitary education B.8 Update the contingency plans for exotic SENACSA 2015–16 Consultants, simulation 450,000 diseases posing a risk to the country exercises Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan B.9 Strengthen animal welfare aspects SENACSA and ARP Consultant, studies 100,000 C. Strengthen C1. Undertake a study on the situation and SENACSA 2015 Consultant, study 100,000 public sector registry of slaughterhouses for national competencies consumption and define the strategies and for addressing human and financial resources needed to inspections of local expand control and inspection services. slaughterhouses C.2 Implement the program of continuous SENACSA and 2015–18 Courses, scholarships, and 500,000 training of staff responsible for the inspection University of workshops of slaughterhouses Veterinary Sciences C.3 Expand the inspection and control of local SENASCA, 2015–18 Staff, equipment, trips 30,250,000 slaughterhouses Departments and municipalities C.4 Delegate inspection activities to private 2015–18 Courses, workshops, 100,000 professionals meetings C.5 Complete the registry and the post-registry SENACSA 2015–18 Legislation, courses, 150,000 activities for all medicines and biological workshops material of veterinary use C.6 Expand the waste disposal plan for all SENACSA and 2016–18 Sample, temporary staff, 1,000,000 products of animal origin, including for local Laboratory Network materials, reagents consumption C.7 Develop and use informatics modules to SENACSA 2014–18 Consultant, training 200,000 collect and analyze all data as part of the central information system of SENACSA 2-27 (Continued ) TABLE 4.1. SHORT-TERM PLAN PER STRATEGIC LINE (Continued ) 2-28 Responsible Strategic Line Action Institution Period Resources Cost (US$) Sanitary and Food Safety Risk Solutions for Livestock Supply Chains C.8 Promote the establishment of a national SENACSA, MSSS 2015–18 Meetings, workshops, 150,000 policy and the coordination mechanisms for consultants all entities in the meat supply chain D. Strengthen D.1 Increase the number of samples processed for SENACSA 2014–18 Staff, material, reagents, 9,750,000 competencies other diseases trips for veterinary laboratories D.2 Input information into the SIGOR III SENACSA 2015–18 Consultant, equipment 250,000 information system D.3 Implement the laboratory accreditation system SENACSA 2016–18 Study, consultant, training 100,000 D.4 Expand capacity of the Waste Laboratory to SENACSA 2016–18 Equipment, material, 8,750,000 undertake relevant studies reagents, training D.5 Strengthen and expand the policy on the SENACSA 2014–18 Consultant, studies 250,000 quality management and method validation for the laboratory D.6 Update the laboratory network SENACSA 2015–18 Study, meetings, workshops 150,000 D.7 Scientific publications in an official and SENACSA 2014–18 Digital subscriptions 75,000 continuous manner E. Strengthen E.1 Elaborate and update program and SENACSA 2014 Consultants, workshops 250,000 competencies on investment plan 2014–18 animal health management E.2 Review the legal framework to achieve rights SENACSA 2014 Consultants, workshops 150,000 and responsibilities including the allocation of financial resources E.3 Prepare an organizational restructuring and SENACSA 2015–16 Consultants, studies 100,000 strengthening program for system process management (ISO 9000) E.4 Organize a transversal program for SENACSA and 2015–18 National courses, 750,000 continuous staff training University of international scholarships, Veterinary Sciences workshops, professors E.5 Establish a transversal system for integrated SENACSA 2015–18 Consultants, equipment, 250,000 information covering SENACSA to collect, training analyze and generate data for action Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment Responsible Strategic Line Action Institution Period Resources Cost (US$) Sanitary and Food Safety Risk Solutions for Livestock Supply Chains E.6 Develop a transversal program on communication SENACSA 2015–18 Consultants, equipment, 500,000 and sanitary education for farmers and other materials, radio, and tv spots actors of the meat supply chain and expand the information center of SENACSA E.7 Review and update the administrative and SENACSA 2015–18 Consultant, training 100,000 accounting systems E.8 Improve the physical infrastructure and SENACSA 2015–18 Land, construction, designs, 1,250,000 equipment including the strengthening of ICTs equipment, material E.9 Managing and administering the institution SENACSA 2015–16 Staff, trips, materials, and 31,000,000 equipment Undertake a PVS evaluation and gap analysis OIE, SENACSA 2018 Consultant, meetings, 150,000 after the five-year period workshops Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan F. Optimize sanitary F.1 Support the establishment of a public-private MAG, SENACSA, 2014–15 Meeting, studies, consultants, 100,000 and production coordination with farmer organizations to ARP trips technical assistance promote their organization for small and medium size farmers Note: The activities in this strategic line are coordinated with the component on agriculture innovation system. Note: Other strategic lines are financed in A and B above. F.2 Support the establishment of partnership MAG, SENACSA, 2014–18 Meetings, workshops, trips 100,000 with public institutions (departments, ARP municipalities, others) F.3 Maintain sanitary coverage of small and MAG, SENACSA, 2014–18 Travel, meetings, materials, 100,000 medium size farmers ARP radio, TV, courses F.4 Provide technical assistance on animal health MAG, SENACSA, 2014–18 Financial resources for Accounted in as part of an integrated production system, ARP projects agriculture including water storage and feed production innovation systems in case of drought or floods. 2-29 (Continued ) TABLE 4.1. SHORT-TERM PLAN PER STRATEGIC LINE (Continued ) 2-30 Responsible Strategic Line Action Institution Period Resources Cost (US$) Sanitary and Food Safety Risk Solutions for Livestock Supply Chains F.5 Train producers about animal health and MAG, SENACSA, 2014–18 Courses, meetings, 100,000 productivity based on demand ARP dissemination material, demonstrative plots, field days, social networks F.6 Undertake communication programs and MAG, SENACSA, 2014–18 Consultant, materials, radio, 100,000 sanitary education ARP TV, social networks F.7 Develop livestock production projects at the MAG, SENACSA, 2014–18 Financial resources for Available in request of small and medium size farmers ARP projects the agriculture to be presented to financial institution for innovation system obtaining resources for its implementation budget Aggregate costs per Total: $198,085,000 year 2014: $19,883,667 2015: $51,296,166 2016–2018: $126,905,167 Source: This action plan and its budget is based on the Gap Analysis PVS undertaken by the OIE in 2012 and which covers all annual costs of SENACSA over five years Strengthening of The Agriculture Innovation System for Mitigating Family Farming Risks A. Improve the A.1 Establish a working group with SIGEST/MAG 2014 Consultancy to determine 8,000 coordination of representatives from IPTA, SENAVE, the roles and responsibilities the agriculture SENACSA, Viceministries of MAG, and of the working group and its innovation system DINCAP operation for family farming A.2 Implement MECID-DAR in the rest of the SIGEST/MAG 2015–18 Consultant for the 100,000 country strengthening of the tables in relation to their experience A.3 Formalize the existence of an agriculture SIGEST/MAG 2015 Consultancy to determine 10,000 innovation system the roles and responsibilities of the working group and its operation A.4 Reengineer MAG and institutional SIGEST/MAG 2015–17 Consultants to adapt 30,000 adjustment of the sector institutions legislation and redesign functions and linkages among institutions Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment Responsible Strategic Line Action Institution Period Resources Cost (US$) Strengthening of The Agriculture Innovation System for Mitigating Family Farming Risks B. Improve the B.1 Determine the research agenda to generate IPTA 2014 Consultancy for determining 10,000 efficiency of technologies adapted to family farming the research agenda the agriculture innovation system for the management of agriculture risks by family farmers— strengthening of IPTA B.2 Strengthen human resources (training and IPTA 2014–18 Capacity building plan, 400,000 hiring of researches) training events, hiring of Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan technical staff B.3 Improve infrastructure and equipment of IPTA 2015–16 Building infrastructure, 2,000,000 the Research Center in Caacupe and of the laboratory equipment, and 2,700,000 Experimental Field of Chore ICT 450,000 B.4 Improve the ICT services IPTA 2015–16 Internal and external 200,000 information system for communicating with other institutions of the agriculture innovation system C. Improve the C.1 Establish and implement a program for the DEAg/Viceministry 2015–19 Training and updated 150,000 efficiency of the training an updating of extension agents of Agriculture program for extension agents agriculture innovation (VMA) system for managing family farmer risks—strengthening of the Agriculture Technology Extension and Transfer System C.2 Undertake training for upper management of DEAg/VMA 2015–17 Training programs for upper 30,000 CDAs and ALATs. management C.3 Establish a public career path for extension DEAg/VMA 2014 Consultancy to establish 7,000 agents criteria and targets to evaluate performance (Continued ) 2-31 TABLE 4.1. SHORT-TERM PLAN PER STRATEGIC LINE (Continued ) 2-32 Responsible Strategic Line Action Institution Period Resources Cost (US$) Strengthening of The Agriculture Innovation System for Mitigating Family Farming Risks C.4 Improve the allocation of resources to ensure DEAg/VMA 2014 Budget allocation -- the mobility of extension agents on the field C.5 Use new models of training of technical staff DEAg/VMA 2015–19 Consultancies to determine 10,000 and farmers new models to be used, 120,000 training events C.6 Scale up the use of ICTs in order to reduce DEAg/VMA 2015–17 Hiring of a massive SMS 150,000 costs system with a cell phone 100,000 company, implement long-distance learning methods C.7 Try different extension models and DEAg/VMA 2015–16 Consultancy for preparing 10,000 approaches a proposal for pilot experiences in outsourcing extension services and technical assistance D. Improve the D.1 Introduce small scale equipment and VMA 2015–17 Small scale equipment 800,000 efficiency of machinery for family farmers available for and machinery for family the agriculture municipalities farming innovation system for agriculture risk management of family farms— strengthening of PNMCRS D.2 Supply PNMCRS with the necessary VMA 2015 Computer systems for the 100,000 equipment for its work mapping of soils, GPS, sampling, and so on D.3 Provide inputs to the program for VMA 2015–18 Inputs for the development 130,000 demonstrative plots of demonstration plots D.4 Implement a training and update program for VMA 2015–19 Training and update 200,000 technical staff of PNMCRS and extensionist program for technical staff form DEAg and PPA of the program Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment Responsible Strategic Line Action Institution Period Resources Cost (US$) Strengthening of The Agriculture Innovation System for Mitigating Family Farming Risks E. Improve the E.1 Structure and implement a training program SENAVE 2015–16 Training program 150,000 efficiency of the for directors, management, and technical staff agriculture innovation system for agriculture risk management of family farms— strengthening of SENAVE E.2 Strengthen the laboratory services for the SENAVE 2015–16 Laboratory equipment for 500,000 prevention, control, and protection of plant prevention, control, and health and quality plant health and quality Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan E.3 Establish a joint action program with partner SENAVE-SIGEST 2015 Consultancy to establish a 8,000 institutions to achieve its objectives joint action program. F. Improve risk F.1 Obtain financing for the installment of VMA/PRODERS 2014–18 Equipment and materials 15,000,000 management for greenhouses, half-shade and small irrigation to install greenhouses, half family farmers systems shade, and small irrigation through on-farm systems investments F.2 Financing for seeds, fertilizers, tools and small VMA/DINCAP/ 2014–18 Existing resources in -- equipment SIGEST programs and projects Total aggregate costs Total: $23,373,000 per year 2014: $3,105,000 2015: $6,726,600 2016–19: $13,541,500 Price Risk and The Development of an Agriculture Commodity Exchange A. Establish an A.1 Develop an integrated proposal for the MAG 2014 Consultant with experience 15,000 agriculture establishment of an exchange in commodity exchanges commodity exchange (cash only) A.2 Establish a working group MAG 2014 Public and private sector 0 entities A.3 Design a business plan Working Group 2014 Consultant with experience 20,000 in commodity exchanges (Continued ) 2-33 TABLE 4.1. SHORT-TERM PLAN PER STRATEGIC LINE (Continued ) 2-34 Responsible Strategic Line Action Institution Period Resources Cost (US$) Price Risk and The Development of an Agriculture Commodity Exchange A.4 Develop of bylaws and operating regulations Working group 2015 Lawyer with experience in 19,000 commodity exchanges A.5 Launch MAG and exchange 2015 Launch event 10,000 authorities B. Establish of a B.1 Develop an integrated proposal for the MAG 2014 Consultant with experience 15,000 derivatives market establishment of derivatives market in commodity exchanges B.2 Train the working group MAG 2014 Public and private sector 0 entities B.3 Design a business plan Working group 2014 Consultant with experience 20,000 in commodity exchanges B.4 Develop the bylaws and operating regulations Working group 2015 Lawyer with experience in 19,000 derivative markets B.5 Launch MAG and authorities 2015 Launch event 10,000 of the exchange Total aggregate costs Total: $128,000 per year 2014: $70,000 2015: $58,000 Agriculture Risk Financing Strategy A. Increase the A.1 Diagnose the agriculture risk management Risk Management 2014–16 Consultant and training 3,000 knowledge of areas and themes that need to be reinforced Unit—MAG 3,000 public and private through training (UGR-MAG) sector officials with support from on agriculture universities (UNA risk management and UCNSA) approaches to integrate them within their respective institutions A.2 Design flexible training adjusted to the Academic institutions 2014–16 Consultancy and training 65,000 availability of technical staff on forecasting, (UNA and UCA) 65,000 risk analysis, quantification, sector impacts, with support from and risk financing. the technical working committee Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment Responsible Strategic Line Action Institution Period Resources Cost (US$) Agriculture Risk Financing Strategy A.3 Implementation of exchange visits, UGR-MAG with 2014–16 Consultancy and training 25,000 courses, and workshops in the areas of risk support from the 8,000 management for agriculture sector institutions technical working committee A.4 Establish collaboration agreements with local UGR-MAG with 2014–16 Meeting expenses 1,000 and international entities support of the technical working committee A.5 Access resources and cooperation agreements UGR-MAG with 2014–16 Equipment 7,500 to: (i) support the development of risk financing support from the policies; and (ii) support the implementation of technical working Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan a risk financing structure for the public sector committee B. Access historical B.1 Strengthen the technical working committee UGR-MAG 2014 Equipment 7,500 data and required to direct studies and analysis, and manage information for the coordination of actions focused on risk the analysis and management quantification of risks B.2. Coordinate and establish working groups UGR-MAG with 2014–18 Consultancy and training 10,800 for the design and implementation of an support of the 6,300 information platform technical working committee B.3 Undertake a needs assessment and priorities UGR-MAG with 2014–18 Consultancy and meeting 7,200 from an institutional mapping. The mapping support of the expenses 1,500 should include: (i) system’s hardware, software, technical working and applications; (ii) information and available committee data generated by the institution; (iii) storage systems; (iv) analysis of missing values; and (v) financial resources for its implementation B.4 Design and develop an information platform UGR-MAG with 2015–17 Consultancy 60,000 through the definition of a technological support of the architecture and the definition of an technical working information system model committee (Continued ) 2-35 TABLE 4.1. SHORT-TERM PLAN PER STRATEGIC LINE (Continued ) 2-36 Responsible Strategic Line Action Institution Period Resources Cost (US$) Agriculture Risk Financing Strategy B.5 Approve the protocol for the functioning UGR-MAG with 2014–16 Consultancy 1,800 of the information platform support of the technical working committee B.6 Strengthen the software and hardware UGR-MAG with 2015–17 Consultancy and investments 600,000 platform support of the 585,000 technical working committee B.7 Execute a pilot of the functioning and UGR-MAG with 2015 Consultancy and investments 80,000 operation of the platform support of the technical working committee B.8 Design and deliver training for the use of the UGR-MAG with 2016–18 Consultancy and training 15,000 technological platform support of the technical working committee C. Design and C.1 Approve a strategic plan and design an UGR-MAG with 2014 Consultancy 3,000 implement a operating plan for its implementation through support of the financial structure the technical working committee technical working for integrated committee risk management through a PPP to allow family farmers to be covered C.2 Design and implement a financing structure UGR-MAG with 2015–17 Consultancy 450,000 for agriculture risk focusing on family farmers. support of the The structure should include the identification technical working of institutional, technical, operative, and committee regulatory limitations/strengths Aggregated costs per Total: $2,064,850 year 2014: $123,400 2015: $874,300 2016–2018: $1,067,150 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment TABLE 4.2. SHORT-TERM PLAN PER RESPONSIBLE INSTITUTION (Continued ) 2014 2015 Actions II III IV I II III IV Solutions for Sanitary and Food Safety Risks of Agriculture Value Chains A1 – SENACSA (Servicio X X X X Nacional de Sanidad de Alimentos)/ARP A2 – SENACSA/ARP X X X X X A3 – SENACSA/ARP A4 – SENACSA A5 – SENACSA X X X X X A6 – SENACSA X X X A7 – SENACSA X X X X X X X A8 – SENACSA B1 – SENACSA/ARP X X X B2 – SENACSA X X X X B3 – SENACSA/ARP X X X X B4 – SENACSA, local comissions X X X X B5 – SENACSA, ARP, local X X X comissions B6 – SENACSA, pig producer X X X X associations B7 – SENACSA, poultry producer X X X associations B8 – Agencia Nacional de X X X Sanidad Animal (ANACSA) B9 – SENACSA/ARP X X X X C1 – SENACSA X X C2 – SENACSA, Veterenary X X X X Science University C3 – SENACSA, departments, X X X X and municipalities C5 – SENACSA X X X X C6 – SENACSA, lab network X X X X C7 – SENACSA X X X C8 – SENACSA X X D1 – SENACSA X X X X D2 – SENACSA X X X X X X D3 – SENACSA X X X D4 – SENACSA X X X X D5 – SENACSA X X X X X X D6 – SENACSA X X X X D7 – SENACSA X X X E1 – SENACSA X X (Continued ) Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 2-37 TABLE 4.2. SHORT-TERM PLAN PER RESPONSIBLE INSTITUTION (Continued ) 2014 2015 Actions II III IV I II III IV E2 – SENACSA X E3 – SENACSA X X E4 – SENACSA, Veterinary X X X X Science University E5 – SENACSA X X X X E6 – SENACSA X X X X X E7 – SENACSA X X X E8 – SENACSA X X X X E9 – SENACSA X X X X X E10 – OIE, SENACSA F1 – MAG, SENACSA, ARP X X X F2 – MAG, SENACSA, ARP X X X F3 – SENACSA, MAG, ARP X X X X X X X F4 – MAG, SENACSA, ARP X X X X F5 – MAG, SENACSA, ARP X X X X X X X F6 – MAG, SENACSA, ARP X X X X X X F7 – MAG, SENACSA, ARP X X X X Strengthening of The Agriculture Innovation System for Mitigating Family Farming Risks A1 – SIGEST/MAG X X A2 – SIGEST/MAG X X X X A3 – SIGEST/MAG X X A4 – SIGEST/MAG X X X X B1 – IPTA X X B2 – IPTA X X X X X B3 – IPTA X X X X B4 – IPTA X X X X C1 – DEAg/VMA X X X X C2 – DEAg/VMA X X X X C3 – DEAg/VMA X C4 – DEAg/VMA X C5 – DEAg/VMA X X X X C6 – DEAg/VMA X X X X C7 – DEAg/VMA X D1 – PNMCRS/VMA X X X X D2 – PNMCRS/VMA X X D3 – PNMCRS/VMA X X X X D4 – PNMCRS/VMA X X X X E1 – SENAVE X X X X E2 – SENAVE X X X X E3 – SENAVE X F1 – Inversiones Prediales X X X X X F2 – Inversiones Prediales X X X X X 2-38 Paraguay Agricultural Sector Risk Assessment TABLE 4.2. SHORT-TERM PLAN PER RESPONSIBLE INSTITUTION (Continued ) 2014 2015 Actions II III IV I II III IV Price Risk Management and Developing an Agricultural Commodity Exchange A1 – MAG X A2 – MAG X A3 – Working group X A4 – Working group X A5 – MAG And authorities of the X commodity exchange B1 – MAG X B2 – MAG X B3 – Working group X B4 – Working group X B5 – MAG and authorities of the X commodity exchange Agriculture Risk Financing Strategy A1 – UGR-MAG X A2 – Academic institutions X A3 – UGR-MAG X X A4 – UGR-MAG X A5 – UGR-MAG X B1 – UGR-MAG X B2 – UGR-MAG X X X X B3 – UGR-MAG X B4 – UGR-MAG X B5 – UGR-MAG X B6 – UGR-MAG X B7 – UGR-MAG X B8 – UGR-MAG C1 – UGR-MAG X C2 – UGR-MAG X Identification, Prioritization, Strategy, and Action Plan 2-39 REFERENCES Axco. 2014. Seguros de Daños: Paraguay. (Traducido al Español). London: Axco. Báez, J. 2014. Entrevista No-estructurada. Aplicación de Sistema de Información e Información Meteorológica. 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