Fedearroz asks the Ministry of Agriculture to implement new, effective measures in response to the national strike.

This Friday, July 18, the National Board of Directors of Fedearroz, meeting in its regular session in Bogotá, expressed " enormous concern over the crisis situation affecting national rice production as a result of the drastic fall in prices , which has triggered serious damage to roads in several departments of the country, as a result of the anguish that now pervades all rice farmers."

In a statement, the board stated that it "recognizes and supports the ongoing efforts" undertaken by General Manager Rafael Hernández Lozano before the Ministry of Agriculture and the industry, " privileging dialogue as a mechanism for agreement to quickly find a solution to this difficult problem, which has been the most complex in the last 25 years." See more: The commitment to corporate sustainability: the lessons of 2025 for the sector

Likewise, they indicated that they believe the country "cannot remain in this situation any longer, and that is why, while we recognize the efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture, we make a special call to implement new measures accompanied by more effective resources and mechanisms for their execution." See more: Rice farmers will not end strike until meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture: where closures continue

They also called on milling representatives and white rice marketing agents to demonstrate their "willingness to contribute and work together to reach a solution that recognizes the efforts of the entire production chain , with the aim of saving the country's rice sector in mind." See more: Rice strike: Organizing committee still awaits response from the Ministry of Agriculture

The federation stated that, in the midst of any negotiation, it must be recognized that the "storage incentive was a mechanism that contributed for nearly three decades to generating a climate of price stability, which has allowed farmers to remain in this productive activity , which is basic to national food security." Thus, they were emphatic in that not only must the effectiveness of the measures that

has announced the National Government, but rather the "Storage Incentive must be resumed, as long as there is no other mechanism that with the same effectiveness contributes to the stability of the marketing of the harvest , counting on the will of the milling industry and the marketing agents of white rice."

See more: Figures that would reflect the 'unsustainable' reality of the rice sector

That said, the Federation expressed that the need to reach an agreement to resolve the current crisis facing the country " is urgent; failure to do so would cause enormous harm to rice production, to the point that it could discourage planting , which would mean an inability to meet the country's demand, a situation of enormous gravity, since we cannot forget that there is no food more expensive than that which we cannot produce."

VALENTINA DELGADILLO ABELLO

Portfolio Journalist