Rice growers once again hit the streets: recent protests confirm the difficult moment for rice in Colombia
Rice in Colombia is the second most important crop in the country and one of the most consumed foods by Colombians, which is why it has been fundamental in the country’s diet and economy. With an average consumption of 43 kg per person per year, rice is a staple food for millions of Colombians.
Despite this, the sector faces serious challenges that have led thousands of producers from all over the country to protest in Bogota and Casanare in the past weeks. The low purchase prices of rice, due to the lack of agreement on the storage incentive and the floor prices it implies, were the main reason for the mobilization. However, the sector’s analysis shows that the problems go beyond these factors.
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Colombia’s rice sector faces the challenge of growing imports
Rice imports, mainly from Ecuador and the United States, reduce rice prices and affect Colombian producers. In 2022, 177,946 tons of white rice and 254,021 tons of dry paddy were imported. These imports are based on the trade agreements signed by Colombia, and imports from the United States are expected to increase even more after full relief under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in 2030.
This situation raises concerns in the local rice sector, as competition with imported rice may affect the profitability and sustainability of domestic producers. In addition, imports may have an impact on food security and employment in rural areas.
On the other hand, Colombia’s rice exports have been very low and have presented variable behavior in recent years. Although peak levels close to 2,000 tons have been reached in 2017 and 2020, the export potential of the Colombian rice sector has not yet been fully developed.
To address these challenges, the National Rice Growers Federation (Fedearroz) has been implementing the Massive Adoption of Technology (AMTEC) program since 2014, with which it hopes to increase productivity and reduce production costs for Colombian rice producers, in the face of the FTA with the United States.
However, it is also important to promote other policies and strategies to strengthen the competitiveness of the Colombian rice sector, both domestically and in the international market.
Greater investment in research and development, the construction of irrigation districts, investment in new drying and storage strategies, the search for commercial alliances and the promotion of Colombian rice in the international market are some of the initiatives that rice production in Colombia needs to take a leap forward.
Rice is produced in half of Colombia
Rice is grown in 210 municipalities in 23 departments, supporting approximately 400,000 families in the country.
Rice production in Colombia is concentrated in five zones: Llanos Orientales, Centro, Bajo Cauca, Santanderes, and Costa Norte. The center of the country and the Eastern Plains account for 80% of national production, according to the Bolsa Mercantil de Colombia.
The process consists of three stages: production, processing, and marketing. Two rice production systems coexist in the country: technified and manual or traditional.
In 2022, the performance of the rice sector was not as desired. DANE estimates that, during the second half of 2022, the area planted with mechanized rice was 177,221 hectares nationwide and that the harvested area of mechanized rice fell by 7.4% compared to the same period of the previous year, going from 385,791 hectares, in the second half of 2021, to 357,275 hectares in the same period of 2022. Despite this decrease, 3,326,529 tons of rice were produced in the country.
