The 80% probability that the La Niña phenomenon will reach Colombia has the agricultural sector on constant alert, due to the threats that this type of climatic events present to the country’s productivity.
(See: 16% increase in production in the first half of the year reinforces improvement in coffee growing)
An increase in food inflation, animal deaths and crop losses are some of the challenges that this sector will have to face, although according to crop leaders, There are already tasks being carried out to mitigate the impact.
Colombia, having a geographical location in a tropical zone, is exposed to climatic variability, from which the country has had the opportunity to learn, since it cannot be forgotten that the nation faced almost three consecutive years of rains that led, in large part, food inflation to a ceiling.
(See more: The panorama that the new Ministry of Agriculture will find, after Mojica’s departure)
Now, with a threatening rainy season, the agricultural sectors are working on mitigation strategies, although they are emphatic in saying that More public policies and programs are needed from the Government to deal with any type of event.
According to Jorge Bedoya, president of the Colombian Farmers’ Society (SAC), Concern about the increase in rainfall in the more than 1,000 municipalities that are at risk is cleartaking into account that there were some impacts last summer, but the rains can be more challenging.
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In preparation for facing the meteorological event, Bedoya insists that it is necessary for the Government to take clear actions, especially in agricultural insurance for small, medium and large producers through credit relief.
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“Although there is a general policy, there are things that are still missing. This is also a challenge that the new Minister of Agriculture will have to face. Hopefully the rains will not be as they appear to be because that could also have repercussions, complicating the outlook for inflation.“, he said.
(Read: How logistics is affecting the competitiveness of Colombia’s Hass avocado)
Regarding the credit and insurance situation, Portafolio consulted the Fund for the Financing of the Agricultural Sector (Finagro), who assured that in collaboration with the National Commission for Agricultural Credit and the Ministry Resources for almost $18 billion were established to subsidize agricultural insurance policies in order to deal with phenomena such as La Niña.
However, Last week the availability of these resources was exhausted.which is why the entity is already in talks with the Government to establish new amounts and continue subsidizing insurance, which, for example, for small low-income producers provides a premium of up to 95%.
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It is worth noting that the outgoing Minister of Agriculture, Jhenifer Mojica, presented a plan for economic investment and adaptation to climatic situations in the country’s rural areas, and will have a purse of $2.6 billion.
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In conversation with the different agricultural sectors, such as the banana sector, they have been activating climate action contingency plans through investment. According to Emerson Aguirre, president of the Colombian Banana Association (Augura), $2 billion was allocated for dredging within crops and manual cleaning of rivers and tributaries in the Urabá area, in order to prevent possible flooding.
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“We urgently call on the Government. A subsidy for agricultural insurance is needed for small, medium and large producers, in this way not only exports are protected, but also the employment that our activity produces.“, said the union leader.
For his part, José Francisco Zuñiga, president of the Association of Banana Growers of Magdalena and La Guajira (Asbama), said that having on the table the rain scenario and the characteristics of the banana plant, They are participating in instances such as the Agroclimatic Technical Roundtables and the SAC Committee with the Ideamto influence direct measures on the premises that minimize the adverse effects of the season.
(See more: Agroecology: the antidote to desertification)
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“This is in addition to a timely information system so that producers have the capacity to react. In addition, local authorities and CARs are being asked to carry out the necessary works on the river banks to avoid affecting the communities.“, he added.
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Looking at one of the crops that is standing out the most in terms of exports, the avocado, the director of Corpohass, Katheryn Mejía, explained that The main impact that this climatic phenomenon has on this sector is the decrease in production volume.
In this sense, the preparations are based on cultivation techniques to drain water, which can not only affect the tree, but the production itself.We didn’t know that two years ago when we had the first La Niña phenomenon in the country and it is part of those lessons that have been accumulated in a sector that is relatively young in Colombia.“, he pointed.
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For the sugarcane growers, the situation is not foreign either, since the production of the Providencia sugar mill has decreased only due to the rains. due to the rains between June and July, a total of 5,000 tons of sugar.
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According to Ivan Alberto Posse, commercial manager, climatic phenomena affect the operation, since they cause there to be abundant water in the crops, “Without having enough sun to evaporate, the plant does not have the capacity to absorb”.
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Meanwhile, in the fruit and vegetable sector, production models have been implemented using agroecological mechanisms where soil recovery is involved (carbon, nitrogen and water cycle), cycles forgotten in conventional agriculture, the same as photosynthesis.
Thus, Alvaro Palacio, general manager of Asohofrucol said that “The phenomena will affect the production of fruits and vegetables, and can only be mitigated in crops that are in healthy and fertile soils. There is no other way, respecting the cycles of nature, to restore the natural order of life.”.
Finally, from the grain sector, the general manager of Fenalce, Henry Vanegas, insisted that Climate-smart agriculture is a tool to better face the challenges of La Niña in crops such as beans, corn and soybeans, among others.
(Read: Alliance renewed in food program that will benefit Colombian agribusinesses)
“The excessive rainfall brought by the La Niña phenomenon can affect everything from sowing to grain storage, generating risks of flooding, soil erosion and plant diseases, which is why adequate planning is required for crop management, depending on the phase they are in.“he concluded.
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