An Argentine government official announced on Friday that the economy minister has resigned, marking the first important departure from the four-month old administration of the new President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

The 36- year- old minister, Martin Lousteau, who previously headed a state-run bank, has reported that he had problems in battling inflation by price controlling and several attempts to redistribute the soaring farm profits that were stoked by the global food prices.

Recently, the independent- minded minister had to face with a serious 21- day farm strike and the continuously increasing inflation, over which him and other officials were unable to settle upon and decide on the direction of the economy.

Argentina, which is the second largest economy in South America, was recently affected by a three-week strike that resulted in many shortages, since the farmers have kept trucks from delivering food. Even though the strike has been stopped, farmers threatened to create new highway barricades if the government does not agree to offer concessions on a recent export-tax increase on soybeans and other crops.

After Lousteau submitted his resignation late Thursday, it was expected that Argentina’s tax chief to replace him. And indeed it was, as he was sworn in on Friday, promising continuity in the government’s current economic policies. President Cristina Fernandez did not have any comment on the matter. Also, it is important to know that Carlos Fernandez, the new economy minister, is not related to her in any way.