2024-07-02 13:43:50
Fenalce common supervisor Henry Vanegas despatched a letter to the Minister of Agriculture, Jhenifer Mojica, warning that the realm planted with technologically superior corn has decreased from 63,864 hectares to 48,567 hectares within the first half of 2024.
HUILA DAILY, PANORAMA
Corn and soybean harvests in Colombia are approaching, beginning in July and August respectively, and lengthening by September. Nevertheless, the brand new problem for farmers will probably be advertising and marketing these merchandise.
The Nationwide Federation of Cereal, Legume and Soybean Growers (Fenalce), by a letter despatched by its common supervisor, Henry Vanegas Angarita, to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Improvement, Jhenifer Mojica Flórez, known as on the nationwide authorities to generate help that strengthens and encourages the manufacturing and advertising and marketing of corn and soybeans within the nation, thus balancing the circumstances of competitiveness towards imports.
Within the letter, Fenalce confused that, though President Gustavo Petro has expressed his willingness to strengthen corn crops and obtain meals sovereignty, it’s essential that the nationwide authorities pay extra consideration to the notable lower within the areas planted with each corn and soybeans within the nation.
Discount in planted areas
In accordance with Fenalce calculations, within the first half of 2024 there was a discount within the planted areas as follows:
– 24% in technologically superior yellow corn, going from 63,864 hectares to 48,567 hectares.
– 34% in technically modified white corn, going from 42,871 hectares to twenty-eight,422 hectares.
– 14% in soybeans, in comparison with the identical interval in 2023, going from 75,000 hectares to 64,395 hectares.
«Corn and soybean crops generate a big variety of jobs. Nevertheless, the lower in planting impacts the earnings alternatives of households that rely upon these crops. Within the first half of this 12 months, corn cultivation generated 144,123 jobs and soybean cultivation, 51,516 jobs, which decreased by 35% and 14% in comparison with the primary half of 2023,» Fenalce indicated.
Value protection
Vanegas confused the necessity for danger administration devices and areas within the native agroindustry for the commercialization of crops, and subsequently known as on the Authorities to implement varied devices corresponding to value protection.
On this regard, Vanegas made it clear that “nationwide growers have been affected by the lower in worldwide costs, which fell by round 20% between June 2023 and June 2024, which impacts advertising and marketing costs within the home market, along with the excessive prices of credit score, gasoline and opposed climate circumstances.”
Necessities for second-semester harvests
Fenalce warned that, for the corn harvests of the second half of the 12 months, will probably be essential to act in time in order that small farmers in Córdoba, Tolima, Meta and southern Cesar can entry drying and storage infrastructure.
“For soybeans, that are largely produced within the Colombian highlands and within the division of Valle del Cauca, will probably be essential to supply producers with drying infrastructure. As well as, the implementation of a value and change fee protection program for corn and soybeans is important,” Fenalce insisted.
Challenges and future prospects
The present context of agriculture in Colombia is just not solely marked by the rapid challenges of promoting and the discount of cultivated areas, but additionally by a sequence of structural elements that require pressing consideration. These embody the volatility of the worldwide market, restricted entry to superior applied sciences and the dearth of ample infrastructure for the processing and storage of agricultural merchandise.
Infrastructure and expertise
One of many important factors highlighted by Vanegas is the necessity to enhance agricultural infrastructure. This consists of the development of drying and storage vegetation that enable small and medium-sized farmers to raised protect their crops and keep away from post-harvest losses. As well as, the adoption of superior applied sciences in corn and soybean cultivation may considerably improve yields and product high quality.
Entry to financing
Entry to credit score is one other important problem. The excessive prices of agricultural financing restrict farmers’ potential to put money into their crops. Fenalce has proposed the creation of extra accessible financing mechanisms with favorable circumstances, which permit farmers to acquire the mandatory assets with out incurring unsustainable money owed.
Sustainability and local weather change
Environmental sustainability is one other facet that can not be ignored. Sustainable agricultural practices, together with the usage of drought-resistant varieties and cultivation methods that reduce environmental influence, are important to make sure the long-term viability of agriculture in Colombia. Fenalce has urged the federal government to advertise insurance policies that encourage the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.
Public insurance policies and authorities help
Fenalce’s letter underlines the necessity for extra decisive help from the nationwide authorities. This consists of not solely financial incentives, but additionally the implementation of public insurance policies that promote analysis and improvement within the agricultural sector. Collaboration between the private and non-private sectors is significant to create an setting that favors the expansion and competitiveness of corn and soybean crops.
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Training and coaching
Lastly, farmer schooling and coaching is essential. Fenalce has highlighted the significance of coaching programmes that allow farmers to amass new expertise and data on superior cultivation methods, danger administration and efficient advertising and marketing of their merchandise.
Henry Vanegas concluded his letter by reiterating Fenalce’s willingness to work hand in hand with the Authorities and different actors within the agricultural sector. The objective is evident: to remodel present challenges into alternatives for development and sustainable improvement for corn and soybean farmers in Colombia. The collaboration and dedication of all events concerned will probably be important to realize these goals and guarantee a affluent future for agriculture within the nation.
Debate within the Senate
In a debate held within the Fifth Fee of the Senate of the Republic, the worrying scenario confronted by corn and cassava producers within the nation was addressed.
The senators outlined various elements which have contributed to the decline in agricultural manufacturing and the difficulties confronted by farmers in some areas.
Conservative Social gathering Senator Miguel Barreto stated that there’s a lack of capability amongst producers to kind associations, and likewise identified that intermediaries are severely affecting the peasant sector in Colombia.
“Our corn producers, our farmers, shouldn’t have the capability to kind associations, the middlemen are destroying the productive sector,” stated Senator Barreto.
For her half, the senator of the Historic Pact Coalition, Catalina Pérez, recalled the demonstrations carried out by farmers to forestall the approval of the Free Commerce Settlement (FTA), as a result of agriculture was not aggressive.
“A lot of our peasants held massive demonstrations to forestall the FTA from being accredited, and it was accredited as a result of our nation was not ready for an FTA,” stated Senator Pérez.
In accordance with an official report, which was introduced on the debate, there’s a important hole between corn imports and home manufacturing. Throughout 2023, greater than 8 million tons of corn have been imported, whereas home manufacturing barely reached a bit of greater than 800 thousand tons, which is equal to solely 9.53% of the corn consumed by Colombians.
Conservative Social gathering Senator Marcos Daniel Pineda known as for incentives to purchase native merchandise by the nationwide trade and to prioritize native manufacturing over imports.
“We’ve got requested the federal government to assist encourage native producers, to encourage the nationwide trade to purchase nationwide merchandise, and to offer precedence to native manufacturing over imports,” stated Senator Pineda.
Because of the controversy, agreements have been reached with the Ministry of Agriculture to encourage the acquisition of nationwide manufacturing and supply ample ensures to save lots of this sector and the hundreds of households that rely upon it.
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