FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 09/01 - COLOMBIA (6 September)
Weather conditions in recent months have been adequate for the normal development of crops throughout the country. Harvesting of the main paddy crop started in August and is expected to continue throughout September. Farm-gate paddy prices were already low before the main harvest, and to protect farmers the government has stopped rice imports until next year. The Government suspended in August peace talks with the National Liberation Army (ELN), the second largest guerrilla movement, and a recent UN inter- agency mission that visited the country concluded that displacement has increased. The mission observed an increase in the numbers, geographical extension and political complexities of the displacement phenomenon, and insisted that the affected populations are in urgent need of protection and humanitarian assistance.
Imports in marketing year 2000/01 (July/June) are estimated at 1.2 million tonnes of wheat and 2.1 million tonnes of maize, mainly for feed. Import requirements of both commodities in the next marketing year are forecast to increase by about 5 percent.