The Colombian Government will invest $ 5.1 million dollars to implement a plan that will be developed in the southwest of the country to take advantage of the open markets due to the free trade agreements, official sources said.
The Colombian Minister of Agriculture, Ruben Dario Lizarralde, made the announcement and said the initiative would be developed in 42 municipalities of Valle del Cauca and would benefit more than 5,000 families.
The Colombian Government's initial investment will be 10,000 million pesos ($5.1 million dollars), which will help technologically develop 13 types of citrus crops, avocados, blackberries, papaya, melon, passion fruit, pineapple, lulo, mango, peach, baby bananas, strawberry and grape.
According to Lizarralde, the Fruit Plan for the Valley seeks to improve the productivity of small farmers by increasing their logistics and institutional capacity, with environmental, social and economic criteria.
He said the free trade agreements are an extraordinary opportunity for fruit production, which should be exploited.
"It's amazing how other countries look up, even enviously, to our fruit potential in terms of varieties, sizes, qualities, soil conditions and climate," said Lizarralde.
Source: Reuters