The EU has earmarked 70 million Euro, via an international cooperation agreement, for the Ministry of Agriculture in order to support the Colombian government's regionally focused strategy to transform the countryside.
This financial support will be part of the national budget and will be executed via the Ministry of Agriculture, in prioritized projects for the improvement of the fields, a form of cooperation that, according to the EU, had not previously been pursued by the ministry.
In this regard, they clarified that the purpose of these resources was to promote rural development with a territorial approach and the productive and social transformation processes in rural areas in order to improve the capacity of families and communities and reduce regional imbalances.
Additionally, the agency stated there was budgetary aid to support the implementation of the dairy sector's policy, as defined in Conpes 3675, and improve competitiveness.
The resources will be disbursed starting January next year by incorporating them into the budget of the Ministry of Agriculture and will have to be used within five consecutive years.
"These actions are aimed at strengthening the primary production link and the rural development of the Colombian countryside," said the head of the agricultural portfolio, Aurelio Iragorri, who added this was a vote of confidence from the EU.
The Ambassador of the European Union, Maria Wilhelmina Josepha Antonia Van Gool, said the EU wanted to encourage and support the Colombian government's policies for the rural sector as well as support the strengthening of small producers so they could be competitive.
In terms of the support for the dairy sector, minister Iragorri said these resources would help potentiate producers to face new opportunities in international markets.
Source: El Universal