Colombia: Blockades cause price increases for potatoes and other products
They emphasized that prices will drop again by the end of the year, and small and medium-sized producers will be the worst affected.
In response to the rising prices of foods such as potatoes, plantains, and cassava, the president of Fedepapa, Germán Palacio, answered the question about the high prices, highlighting that one of the reasons is the 2021 lockdowns and low production in Cundinamarca, Boyacá, and Nariño, the main potato-producing departments.
“In the second half of 2020, potato prices were extremely low, not even recovering 20% of production costs. We started 2021 with great optimism, but the blockades and road closures in the south of the country, which is when the harvest that supplies Colombians’ tables is produced, prevented the harvest from reaching the country, and a large part of the crop was lost,” Palacio commented.
He added that the price of fertilizer has doubled, which also represents an increase. However, the price of potatoes will begin to drop starting in June, which is when the harvest in Cundinamarca and Boyacá begins.
Similarly, he explained that of the 100,000 potato producers, between 10 and 15% are switching to other activities, such as livestock farming, which is affecting harvests.
"At the current price of potatoes, it’s very difficult for Colombians to have the resources to buy them, so we believe they can shift to cassava, plantains, and pasta. These products are also expensive."
Finally, he emphasized that prices will fall again by the end of the year, and small and medium-sized producers will be the worst offenders.
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