Latest news with #MonicaMachicao
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
As Bolivia floods, cows swim where they once grazed
By Monica Machicao and Santiago Limachi BENI, Bolivia (Reuters) -In Bolivia's rural region of Beni near the border with Brazil, vast grasslands where cows once grazed have been submerged, forcing cattle and the cowboys that herd them to swim or wade to reach small patches of higher ground. The South American nation has been hit by some of the most intense rains in decades, which have left soy fields and ranches underwater, putting at risk exports to overseas markets and pushing up local food prices. "The flooding we are experiencing right now is very unusual, very severe for this time of year," cattle rancher Gunther Amatller told Reuters as he rescued his livestock from the flood waters. "The water just keeps rising. It's hard to predict how much higher it will rise." According to local estimates, some 200,000 head of cattle, or about 2% of the national herd, are at risk, struggling with flood water and fatigue. Beni supplies beef nationwide and exports to markets such as China. The floods have hit 590,000 families and killed at least 55 people. "My cattle are suffering and the animals are emaciated. Plus, there are a lot of snakes and jaguars in that flooded area," lamented Teresa Vargas, owner of the Cheperepije ranch. Climate change has altered weather patterns, according to experts, delaying rains and making them more intense. The Mamoré River, an Amazonian river that runs through Bolivia and Brazil, has burst its banks, flooding everything in its path. In towns such as Puerto Almacén and Puerto Ballivián, entire families have abandoned their homes, seeking refuge in makeshift shelters on the side of the road. "We are forced to leave our houses," Mayra Peralta said, her voice breaking. "Every day, the water rises." In Loma Calatayud, Jesús Martínez helplessly showed how his rice, plantain, and cassava crops have disappeared. His wife cooks precariously on a wooden platform, while water surrounds their home. "Everything is underwater," said Jesús. Indigenous women, such as Edilberta Huaginoe, cook in hastily constructed camps on higher ground, trying to feed their children with what little they can salvage from the water. "The rice is underwater, the plantains and cassava are underwater, and we can't get them out because they're too deep," said Edilberta. "This is where we'll come to sleep until the water recedes."
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Everything is so expensive': Bolivians tighten belts as new inflation reality bites
By Monica Machicao LA PAZ (Reuters) - In Bolivia's highland city La Paz, homemaker Angelica Zapata is coming to terms with a new inflation reality as prices rise at the fastest speed in almost two decades, propelled by shortages of fuel and dollars in the Andean country. The landlocked natural gas and grain producer is facing its most acute economic plight since the global financial crisis, with foreign currency reserves sliding on stalled energy production and exports, which have stoked political unrest and protests. The dollar shortage has stymied imports, pushing up farmers' costs and leading to long lines for gasoline and diesel at the pump. It has also strained a state subsidy system that for years helped keep fuel prices low. "Everything is so expensive, there's no money left," said Zapata at a food market in political capital La Paz, a rocky city ringed by Andean peaks. "I used to go to the market with 100 bolivianos ($14.58) and buy everything. It was enough for more than a week. I have several daughters, and what I buy isn't enough anymore. At most, these vegetables will last me one or two days." She added the cost of meats such as beef, chicken and pork had risen even more and prices were now "sky-high." Bolivia, one of South America's poorest nations, grows much of its own produce and historically had a surplus of natural gas, keeping energy costs down. Producers have not found new gas fields to replace those that have been tapped out, however, reducing exports and an important source of foreign income. The socialist party that has dominated politics since 2006 has subsidized certain goods but is now struggling to keep the economy afloat, denting President Luis Arce's popularity ahead of general elections in August. Bolivia's inflation rate, one of the lowest in Latin America over the last decade, has shot past regional peers such as Brazil, Mexico and Peru. It now lags only Argentina and Venezuela, and even those countries are seeing inflation cool. Dwindling gas production has forced the country to import more costly oil and gas, a key input for farmers and businesses, which in turn has pushed up other prices. "Food inflation is 17%, but there are foods that have risen even more significantly in recent months and the last year," said La Paz-based economist Jose Luis Evia, adding that rice prices rose 58% in the last 12 months, meat prices climbed 30% and fish prices spiked over 40%. 'ONE MEAL A DAY' In the Zapata household, inflation has forced the family to tighten their belts. "We've been forced to cut down on food. I have to give my daughters only one meal a day, just lunch, but no longer dinner," Zapata said. "Many families with lots of children are also going through this. The money we get is no longer enough." The crisis has generated long fuel lines, with some people calling for the government to remove controls and increase subsidies to encourage more production, even if that means prices rise further. "I would like them to lift the fuel subsidy so there will be more gas and we can stop waiting in lines and fill up normally," said taxi driver Samuel Castillo as he lined up to buy gas. Bolivia's government did not respond to a request for comment on what it was doing to bring down inflation. It has taken steps to import more fuel, including allowing firms to pay for imports with cryptocurrency. Castillo has taken on extra jobs to make ends meet. "I have to work as a driver, as a wood and aluminum carpenter, as a painter. I have to work doing a bit of everything to earn more money," he said. ($1 = 6.86 bolivianos)
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bolivia's soy farmers on edge as fuel shortage hits harvest
By Santiago Limachi and Monica Machicao SANTA CRUZ DE LA SIERRA, Bolivia (Reuters) - In Bolivia's farm region of Santa Cruz, a worsening fuel shortage is starting to hit farmers' ability to harvest their crops, a concern for the embattled South American country where agriculture has become a key economic driver. The fuel scarcity, which has led to long lines at the pump, stems from a slide in foreign currency reserves over the last decade and dwindling local gas production that is reaching crisis levels. The situation is rattling the government of President Luis Arce, which has sought to cap prices with subsidies. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. "If there is no fuel, producers will go deeper into debt," said Joel Eizaguirre, a soybean producer in the lowland region of Santa Cruz, the main farm belt of the country. "We're going to be left with producers who will start to make other choices, and it's going to affect everyone." Jaime Fernando Hernandez, manager of oilseed and wheat group ANAPO, said that if there was not enough diesel for the farm machinery and tractors, then a large amount of food - including soy, corn and sorghum - could be lost. This would send ripples through the food chain and affect production of livestock, chicken, milk and eggs. "The impact in terms of productivity and food production could be truly catastrophic," he said. Bolivia's government, under growing pressure due to the dollar and fuel crisis, has moved to try to ease imports, letting state energy firm YPFB use cryptocurrency to pay for fuel cargoes and to pay companies. Farmer Eizaguirre said he would prefer to pay more for fuel than to not have enough, referring to the parallel exchange rate that has hit more than 11 bolivianos per dollar versus 6.86 at the controlled official rate amid the hard-currency shortage. "Personally, I'd rather have fuel cost 11 bolivianos than not have enough fuel to harvest our grain, or not be able to plant during this approaching winter," he said.
