Colombia’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development ruled out the risk of a possible overall food shortage due to heavy winter rains, but noted dwindling rice supplies throughout the country.
Agriculture Minister Juan Carlos Restrepo reported that rice supplies in Colombia are low, but attributes this to problems with general agricultural production rather than winter rains. “Apart from this we don’t see any signs of shortage in Colombia,” he added.
He announced there may be the authorization of between 40,000 and 50,000 tons of rice in the coming months.
The minister went on to say that while food prices have remained steady, some products may experience price increases going forward.
Restrepo used the potato as an example, which has seen a rise in price as a result of winter rains affecting the potato-growing plains in the departments of Boyaca and Cundinamarca.
He added that depending on the intensity of the coming rains, an extra $113 million to $170 million may be needed to help agricultural workers and ranchers who “are up to their necks in water.”