Farmers in Argentina are resuming nationwide protests against the government over what they say is its inadequate support for them.
Farmers in Argentina have begun a six-day protest which includes blocking grain exports and limiting the export of beef.
They want economic concessions for smaller farms, and say they will suspend grain exports and limit the export of beef for the next six days.
They want government help for small- and medium-scale farmers and aid for those in the north of the country hit by the worst drought in 100 years.
The government has urged the farmers to call off the protest and resume talks.
The government has urged the farmers to call off the protest and resume talks.
Farmers' protests earlier this year lasted four months and led to food shortages.
Farmers' protests earlier this year lasted four months and led to food shortages in some towns and cities.
However, farmers' leaders have said that they will not put up the road-blocks that caused such disruption at the time.
Now hundreds of farmers are again standing by roadsides across Argentina.
Rising costs
They began the six-day protest after talks with the government broke down.
Farm leaders want the government to provide subsidies for small and medium-scale farms, which they say are suffering rising production costs.
The protests earlier this year were against government plans to increase taxes on agricultural exports, especially soya.
They also want economic help for those in the north of the country hit by the worst drought in 100 years.
They won that battle when the measure was defeated in parliament by just one vote.
The country is one of the world's major exporters of beef and grains, especially the lucrative soya crop.
This time they want the government to provide subsidies for small- and medium-scale farmers and to help those in the north of Argentina suffering the effects of the devastating drought.
But like much of the world, it is being hit hard by rising fuel costs and falling commodity prices.
The government says talks are making progress and urged the farmers to resume negotiations.
Relations between the farm leaders and the government in Buenos Aires are strained.
The farm leaders say the government simply does not listen to them.
Agriculture Secretary Carlos Cheppi said that given the current international situation, the strike did nothing to help Argentina.
There is little trust between the two sides. There is also little stomach for another prolonged dispute among the Argentine people.
Farm leader Eduardo Buzzi said the situation in the Argentine countryside was only getting worse.
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Many in Argentina are still recovering from the last farmers' protests, and very few have the stomach for another prolonged dispute.
Are you in Argentina? Are you affected by the protests? Send us your comments using the form below.
Four months of protests over government proposals to increase export taxes on grains, especially soya, led to massive disruption across the country and food shortages in some towns and cities.
The government's proposal was defeated in parliament, but farm leaders still have a number of issues to resolve.
Are you in Argentina? Are you affected by the protests? Send us your comments using the form below.
