Colombia prepares for El Niño impacts on agriculture

In Colombia, authorities and agricultural leaders are preparing for the impacts of the El Niño phenomenon. In the department of Boyacá, the local government has formed an alliance with Agrosavia and IDEAM to mitigate climate risks. This strategy includes distributing 800 water storage tanks and providing silage to 400 families across 40 municipalities. The initiative also focuses on using hydrometeorological information to help communities anticipate risks and protect crops.

On a national level, Agriculture Minister Indalecio Dangond has proposed declaring a national emergency if El Niño threatens food security. This proposal has received support from Jorge Enrique Bedoya, president of the Colombian Agricultural Society (SAC), who noted that a national emergency could provide relief to the sector, particularly through the restructuring of producer credits. While Bedoya does not expect an immediate massive spike in basic food prices, he has called for oversight from the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce and DANE to prevent speculation in wholesale markets.