Agriculture Minister Announces Dairy Funding Boost
SPAIN - The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Juan Camilo Restrepo Salazar has announced announced an additional $ 35 billion dollars to pesos financially strengthen the "Conpes Dairy" and support the dairy conversion and revenue of 350,000 Colombian families living in the dairy industry.
29 November 2012
2 minute read
Resources, in addition to the $ 25 billion allocated this year, will run in 2013, the ministry under the discussion of the Free Trade Agreement with the European Commission Unió Second Senate of the Republic.
The "Dairy Conpes", a Spanish acronym for Natinoal Council of Econmics and Social Policies was adopted in 2010 as a national policy to improve the competitiveness of the dairy sector in the face of Colombian Free Trade Agreements.
"We think the policy is well intentioned but so far no money has come from it," Restrepo Salazar said, noting the steps being taken by the government of President Juan Manuel Santos to inject resources between 2012 and 2013, will reach 60 billion pesos.
Dairy Conpes resources will be channeled into the purchase of inputs, conversion and laboratories, purchase of equipment for production and processing, improved grassland and silvopastoral systems, consumer promotion, incentives for technological training and technical assistance.
At the second Commission of the Senate, the minister insisted on creating a 30,000 million peso fund in order to double the milk subsidized ration, which is delivered to the poorest children in Colombia through childhood snacks.
Restrepo Salazar also highlighted the strategic plan to improve the competitiveness of Colombian cattle that require investments, incentives and credits only in excess of 54 billion pesos.
Resources will be channeled into the purchase of pure bulls, artificial insemination, embryo acquisition, improved pastures and silvopastoral, machinery, infrastructure and support.
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