Colombia and Chile weather‑driven agricultural losses

Intense rains and a prolonged drought devastated Colombia’s livestock sector, with the Livestock Federation reporting nearly $12.9 billion in losses, thousands of cattle deaths, and extensive pasture damage across multiple departments. Simultaneously, Chile experienced extreme rainfall that battered avocado and citrus orchards, irrigation systems, power infrastructure, and livestock, with initial damage estimates exceeding $200 million.

In the weeks that followed, Chilean legislators called for expanded emergency assistance. Senator María José Gatica urged the Ministry of Agriculture to issue an emergency bonus and conduct on‑site assessments for small farmers in Los Ríos, while Deputy Cristóbal Martínez pushed to extend the agricultural emergency decree to the Ñuble region, highlighting gaps in coverage despite severe losses there. Both officials emphasized the need for swift state tools and financial support to help affected silvo‑agricultural producers recover.

By late July 2026, heavy rains again struck Chile, this time flooding the Limarí region. Small‑scale farms reported water‑logged greenhouses, blocked roads and difficulty harvesting vegetables, prompting the Ministry of Agriculture’s regional secretary to note an ongoing damage assessment and early signs of reduced market availability. The national farmers’ association warned that disrupted supply chains could push fruit and vegetable prices higher at free markets, while union leaders described manual transport of produce as roads remained impassable. Authorities continue to evaluate the full impact while monitoring price trends.