With a view to the next elections, the Society of Farmers of Colombia (SAC) and its affiliates present transversal proposals to the candidates for the Presidency of the Republic to implement in the 2022-2026 period in the agricultural sector.
According to the official union statement, “the field speaks to the next president”, lead to three proposals to develop the Colombian countryside.
(See: 15% of agriculture in the country uses high technology in processes).
First of all, it talks about the food safety, For the union, a pillar in the national security strategy is important, which must have the support of the State to enable and guarantee the profitable production of food and its access by the most vulnerable population.
However, when asked about the report of the Organization of the United Nations for Food and Agriculture (FAO) in which Colombia was included, along with Haiti and Honduras, in the list of countries at risk of suffering from hunger in 2022, stating that 7.3 million Colombians would need food assistance, the president of the SAC, Jorge Enríque Bedoya, stated that Colombia today does not suffer from a food crisis, but there are factors that if they affect agricultural production such as the impact of strikes.
(See: ‘The Colombian countryside does generate income’: Procultivos de la Andi).
“The clearest example of the impact of blockades is what has happened with the egg. The death of millions of birds in May 2021 with the blockades of the country’s roads today passes bill of collection in egg production” assured the president.
As a second suggestion, there is talk of the endowment of public goods with budgetary commitments, affirming that it will be one of the greatest drivers of the agricultural sector and rural employment.
“It must be a commitment of the next government to get the Colombian countryside out of backwardness” declares the union.
By last, the SAC refers to the definition of long-term rural policy and its articulation with agricultural institutions, that would guarantee the stability of public and private investments and the impact on improving the living conditions of 11 million Colombians who currently live in rural areas.
(See: IICA in Colombia executed 26 cooperation actions in 2021).
DIANA K. RODRIGUEZ T.
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