Fruit producers in Chile register between 50% and 70% fewer workers for their tasks in orchards or facilities

(Agraria.pe) The deficit of workers in the agricultural sector in Chile is a matter of concern and there are data that indicate that it is greater than expected. Most of the fruit producers register a deficit between 50% and 70% of workers to carry out agricultural work on the farms or packings. It is one of the conclusions of the “Survey on the shortage of workers for fruit growing in pandemic”, carried out by the Federation of Fruit Producers of Chile (Fedefruta). The consultation was held between June 25 and 30 of this year, in which 557 companies located between the Atacama and Aysén regions participated. Most of the responses corresponded to fruit growers from the O'Higgins region (27%) followed by Maule (24%), Valparaíso (15%) and Metropolitana (13%). By species, 48% of the companies that responded to the survey produce cherries; They are followed by table grapes (33%), dried fruits (23% - walnuts, hazelnuts, chestnuts), pomaceous (22% - apples, pears) and blueberries (21%). ...