Argentine fishing chief to become agro minister

BUENOS AIRES: Argentina's Undersecretary of Fishing Norberto Yahuar will replace the departing agriculture minister when the country's new government is sworn in this month, a high source at the farm ministry said.

Agriculture is a vital sector in Argentina, the world's top soymeal and soyoil exporter. Current farm minister Julian Dominguez will soon leave the post to take a seat in Congress.

"It's confirmed. Yahuar will without a doubt become our next agriculture minister," the source told Reuters late Wednesday on condition of anonymity.

Several Argentine newspapers reported on Wednesday that Yahuar, a career politician in his native Chubut province and a close ally of the centre-left government, was first in line for the job.

Dominguez's successor will face such challenges as maintaining an improved relationship with farmers as well as implementing new government grains trade policies, including an overhaul of local corn and wheat markets to help improve profits for growers.

Dominguez is credited with helping improve relations with Argentina's agro sector after President Cristina Fernandez's government was hit by massive protests by farmers in 2008 over a soy tax increase. The tax hike was later rescinded.

Fernandez won re-election by a 54-percent landslide last month despite her tense relationship with farmers.

Her centre-left government has not announced who will take Dominguez's spot or who will replace Economy Minister Amado Boudou, who was Fernandez's running mate in the Oct. 23 election and will become vice president on Dec. 10 when the new government is sworn in.

Copyright Reuters, 2011