Land-title backlog deepens as federal office stalls

The Federal Office for Cooperative Affairs in Meridian has accumulated a backlog of more than 340 land-registration applications from Tierra Verde smallholders, with some cases now pending for more than two years. The delays have effectively locked farmers out of the federal fair-price schemes that guarantee minimum prices for coffee and yerba mate exports, forcing many to sell through private middlemen at lower rates.

The Cooperative Council in San Vicente estimates that the average wait time for a title review has stretched to eighteen months, up from eight months in 2024. Without registered land, smallholders cannot join regional cooperatives or access the federal export guarantees that underpin their income stability.

Governor Lucía Báez has asked the Federal Interior Minister to conduct an audit of the office's staffing and procedures, citing the backlog as a barrier to rural economic participation. The office's director has not responded to requests for comment on processing timelines or resource constraints.