Got rice? Costa Rica consumer groups hope its locally grown, and are pushing for price subsidies to stay in place to support local farmers.

The National Federation of Consumers (Fenasco) urged the President of the Republic Luís Guillermo Solís to maintain price subsidies for the country’s basic staple, rice, and to not cede to pressures from organizations, companies or business chambers to roll back the supports.

Pablo Araya and Gerardo Chacón, Fenasco spokespersons, indicated that the government’s provision protects consumers against “opportunistic entrepreneurs who benefit from price fluctuations on the international rice market.”

“The regulation supports local production, generates employment in rural areas where the highest levels of poverty exist, gives price stability, and protects food security, because the country does not have to depend on external rice production,” said the Fenasco representatives.

Fenasco say they wish to open a public debate about the situation that Costa Ricans face when confronted with international products that enter the national market free of regulations.

“We will support small and medium rice producers as well as the industrial sector, which buys and generates work for families of limited resources, who are residents in poor areas of the country that do not offer other employment,” said the consumer group.

Fenasco explained that “opportunistic entrepreneurs in the international rice market take advantage of   leftover rice from South America, which helps producers in Argentina and Uruguay, and not Costa Rican rice farmers.”

Fenasco represents 86 integral development associations throughout the country, and includes representatives from four county unions and has five affiliated federations, in addition to promoting consumer advocates in each province.

The group urged the president to back his motto of “Buy and use what Costa Rica produces.” in keeping the rice subsidies in place.