Despite the announcement that there could be a shortfall in the production of white maize, the harvest ended up being 37 million quintals, a million more than in 2011.
Efraín Medina, head of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA in Spanish), said: "We are concerned about the lack of rain or the inconsistency with which it fell in the days that are most fundamental to the grain, however, due to the efforts MAGA has made in delivering improved seeds and fertilizer, we were able to exceed the figure and ensure good production, since the yield per acre amounted to 30.65%. "
The " Cosecha Segura (safe harvest)" program, which acquires and distributes fertilizer, has suffered a reduction in its budget of 28%.
In 2012 the program received an allocation of Q 555 million ($71 million), a figure that dropped in the recently approved 2013 budget, to Q 400 million ($51 million).
According to a study made by the Universidad de la Esperanza (UNE), the amount will allow for the purchase of 442,000 bags of fertilizer for 721,000 families, leaving 220,000 families out of the program.
The Ministry of Agriculture is working on a regulation of the Food Fortification Act, for the mandatory fortification of corn meal.
According to an article in Prensalibre.com the Agriculture Minister Efrain Medina said that "as part of a pilot scheme running in five departments, and depending on the results and acceptance in regions where the fortified flour is distributed, investigations will be carried out into whether it [cornmeal] is feasible for being subject to this legislation, to force, through specific regulations of this law, those who distribute fortified flour in the country, to have to fortify it by law. The costs are not very high and are quite affordable relative to the impact it may have as a suitable food supplement ".
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA) is promoting new legislation for the use of seeds.
Since 1960 the import, distribution and marketing of seeds has been regulated by a ministerial agreement, the new proposal, which has the support of the United Nations Organization for Food and Agriculture (FAO) and the Spanish International cooperation Agency for Development promotes the formation of local companies o as to be able to have reserves in critical situations.
Although a slight increase in the volume of the current crop is expected, the deficit in meeting domestic consumption is, as in previous years, 5%.
An article in Elperiodico.com.gt reports that "Maga statistics indicate that the production of white maize has increased by 46% in the last six years, rising from 743 million quintals in 2006/07 to 1,080,000 for this year. "
The Minister for Agriculture announced that on July 13 there will be a tender for fortified flour, after the failure of the tender process of 21 June.
The first tender, which was declared void, was for the purchase of 105,252 bags each weighing 50 pounds, with an investment of about $2.4 million.
Roxana Larios writes in Prensalibre.com that, "Efrain Medina, the Agriculture Minister said that for this contest new conditions would be added so that companies do not exceed the established ceiling."
The Honduran Council of Private Enterprise says that reform of the Law on Income Tax is unconstitutional because it is confiscatory.
An article in Elheraldo.hn reports that "The Honduran Council of Private Enterprise (COHEP) argues that legislative approval of the Evasion Measures Act to income tax is unconstitutional, confiscatory and violates a judgment of the Supreme Court dated February 1, 2012. "
A bidding process for the acquisition of fertilizer for 2013 will start soon, in order avoid the inconveniences and lack of transparency of the last purchase.
An article in Lahora.com.gt reports "The Minister Efrain Medina, in accordance with a presidential statement made to reporters yesterday, said that in August or at the latest October this year, a tender process for the delivery of fertilizers in 2013 will be launched. "
The Appraisal Board at the Ministry of Agriculture has accepted three of the five bids received, and announced that contracts will be awarded on Monday March 30th.
The companies who qualified to take part in the tender for the contract for the purchase of one million 914 thousand bags of fertilizer are Disagro of Guatemala, Tigsa Fertilizantes and Fertilizantes Maya (Mayafert), reported Prensalibre.com.