Colombia: Richard Augusto Sánchez was appointed as the new manager of Fedepapa.

The Board of Directors of the Colombian Federation of Potato Producers (Fedepapa) announced that Richard Augusto Sánchez Bernal took office this month as the agricultural association’s new general manager.

Sánchez holds a degree in business administration from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, a specialist in senior management from Inalde Business School, and has complemented his training with specialized courses in marketing.

He has more than 28 years of experience in the agricultural sector, holding leadership and management positions in renowned Colombian and multinational companies specializing in fertilizers, agrochemicals, agricultural services, precision agriculture, and other industries.

His career has been recognized nationally, with the Gacela Pyme Award for innovative strategy. He also represented the inputs sector on the National Corn Roundtable.

"My goal is to improve farmers’ quality of life by promoting the sector’s profitability and sustainability. I want to be closer to producers, understand their real needs, and identify the pain points that affect their daily work, in order to implement effective strategies and open new avenues for development," said Fedepapa’s new general manager.

The potato chain in Colombia generates more than 266,000 jobs, of which more than 76,000 are direct. Image: Courtesy of Upra.

In turn, Fedepapa stated that this appointment reaffirms its commitment to the comprehensive development of the paper industry, "promoting close, efficient management aligned with the needs of Colombian producers. The Federation will continue working to strengthen association, competitiveness, and advocacy for the industry, with a vision for the future, modernity, and sustainability."

Potential for potato crops in Colombia

The new union leader arrives at a time when the sector continues to have opportunities for growth in the country.

According to a report by the Agricultural Planning Unit (UPRA), which highlights the potential for potato cultivation in Colombia and the areas available for planting, the country had a total of 1.7 million hectares suitable for this crop in the first half of the agricultural year, and 1.8 million in the second, with more than 53% of this area classified as highly suitable.

Colombia also has more than 90,000 potato producers, with a production exceeding 3.6 million tons and a planted area of ​​192,589 hectares in 2023.