Registry Backlog Deepens as Tierra Verde Farms Lose Fair-Price Eligibility

The Federal Office for Cooperative Affairs in Meridian has fallen so far behind on land registrations that thousands of Tierra Verde smallholders now face expiration of their eligibility certificates before their applications are even reviewed. The backlog, which stood at 340 cases in April, has swollen to 1,240 by August, according to data released this week by the Tierra Verde Assembly's agriculture committee.

The delay threatens the foundation of the region's cooperative system. Farms without current registration cannot access the federal fair-price scheme for coffee and yerba mate, and cannot vote in cooperative member elections until their status is cleared. For many families, the loss of fair-price access means selling at market rates that undercut production costs.

Governor Lucía Báez has written to the Federal Civic Affairs Minister requesting emergency staffing at the federal office, but no response has been received. The Cooperative Council in San Vicente estimates that if current processing speeds hold, the backlog will reach 2,000 cases by year's end.