Colombia Agriculture Minister orders review of rice sector funds

Colombia’s Minister of Agriculture, Indalecio Dangond, has ordered a forensic review of the management and impact of parafiscal resources within the rice sector. This decision follows reports that import auctions from the United States generated approximately $292,867 million over 15 years, while parafiscal collections exceeded $259,000 million, yet producers continue to struggle with high costs and low productivity.

Simultaneously, the National Federation of Rice Growers (Fedearroz) has issued an urgent plea to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to implement debt refinancing mechanisms. Rice producers are facing a severe financial crisis driven by low harvest prices and adverse climatic conditions. In the Casanare department, flooding has exacerbated these losses, threatening the continuity of agricultural activities as farmers struggle to recover production costs for the 2025 and 2026 harvests.