This Friday, September 26, the Agronorte Cooperative will celebrate two highly significant events: its tenth anniversary and the inauguration of Paraguay’s first chili processing plant, located in the Guayaibí district, San Pedro department.
The event will be attended by producers, local authorities and representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC) and Rediex, consolidating a historic moment for the national agribusiness.
The initiative arose from the business mission organized by Rediex and SENAVE in 2024, which facilitated a visit by the Ecuadorian company UCHU Spice to the Agronorte plant. This meeting launched the chili pepper production project, which is currently underway with 25 hectares cultivated by 50 members of the cooperative, with a projected expansion of 55 hectares by the end of the year. The production will be processed and exported as chili paste to the US market in the next two months.
As part of this progress, a meeting was held at Rediex headquarters with Rolando Chávez Genes, General Manager of Agronorte, accompanied by Belén González, Director of Investment Attraction; Aramí Arza, Head of Post-Investment Services; José Luis Laneri, Senior Export Specialist; and Gustavo Rodríguez, Food and Beverage Sector Specialist. MIC technicians also participated, providing advice on available incentive programs, such as Maquila and 60/90, and guiding the Cooperative through the RIEL (Online Industrial Registry) registration process.
During the meeting, Mr. Chávez highlighted the economic impact of the new crop: “While crops like sesame and chia generate between 2 and 3 million PYG per hectare, chili peppers can generate between 50 and 80 million PYG. This is a huge opportunity for our producers.”
Agronorte currently has 810 members and works with two indigenous communities. Its main crops are sesame, peanuts, beans, and chia. The addition of chili peppers represents a strategic commitment to productive diversification, increased profitability, and the opening of new markets.
The MIC and Rediex reiterated their commitment to supporting Agronorte in its export processes and future investment projects, reaffirming the role of the State as a facilitator of productive development and the internationalization of Paraguayan companies.
The inauguration of this plant not only represents a technological and commercial breakthrough, but also a model of public-private partnership that promotes the inclusion of indigenous communities, the strengthening of cooperatives, and the diversification of the country’s agricultural export market.
