In recent months, the Colombian onion sector has been in crisis. To address this situation, the Ministries of Agriculture and Trade, represented by Martha Carvajalino and Luis Carlos Reyes, respectively, have joined forces to address and solve the issues faced by the country's onion producers.
The strategy focuses on strengthening institutions such as the DIAN (Customs), the ICA (National Agricultural and Horticultural Institute), and the ADR (Rural Development Agency) to provide greater security to Colombian growers. According to the sector, the crisis has been mainly caused by smuggling, unfair trade practices, and falling market prices.
In response, Trade Minister Luis Carlos Reyes has asked producers to submit a formal request to investigate specific issues, such as the subsidies on imported onion, to find solutions that will lead to a fairer market. "We must investigate all aspects that affect this sector, including money laundering. We are working together with one goal: to support initiatives that strengthen the sector in the short and medium term. Our goal is to increase productivity and fair competition so we can achieve the food sovereignty we seek," Reyes said.
Moreover, Minister Carvajalino announced the implementation of strategies with the Agricultural Bank to expand financing opportunities for onion producers, which should provide them with more security and flexibility in their operations.
Source: agronegocios.co