Colanta - USAID Alliance Bulletin #22

Producer associations from the departments of Antioquia, Cesar, Córdoba, and Sucre have expressed their intention to establish more than 500 new hectares of industrial cassava. This expansion is a result of the Alliance's efforts to promote sustainable cassava production and the producer associations' commitment to the initiative. In the Bajo Cauca Subregion, a significant number of producer associations plan to take advantage of the experience gained from previous cycles and establish a new production cycle with more than 200 new hectares of cassava. The Alliance has facilitated the distribution of credits to more than 66 agricultural enterprises, and it is expected that over $500,000 will be disbursed in loans to cassava producers in 2021. The credits, valued at $1.111 per hectare, will be used to finance crops and support the establishment, maintenance, and processing of cassava. The Colanta Cooperative's Milk Powder Plant in San Pedro de Los Milagros has played a crucial role in the dairy crisis affecting Colombia due to the economic deterioration caused by the health emergency. The plant, which began operations in March 2020, has allowed the continuous purchase of milk production from thousands of peasant families, even during times of oversupply. The plant's start-up has enabled the Colanta Cooperative to achieve record figures for the purchase of milk liters per day from associates and producers, while other dairy companies were experiencing difficulties and reducing their purchases from producers. The Milk Powder Plant represents the largest investment of the Cooperative in the Alliance with USAID, with over $26 million invested. This strategic asset has contributed to the stability of the dairy sector in Colombia, and its success has been a key factor in the Alliance's efforts to promote sustainable agricultural production. The Alliance's commitment to supporting agricultural communities and promoting sustainable production practices has led to significant growth and stability in the dairy and cassava sectors. The Alliance's focus on supporting agricultural communities and promoting sustainable production practices has resulted in the expansion of industrial cassava production and the establishment of new production cycles. The distribution of credits to agricultural enterprises and the support provided to producer associations have contributed to the growth and stability of the dairy and cassava sectors. The Colanta Cooperative's Milk Powder Plant has played a crucial role in the dairy crisis, and its success has been a key factor in the Alliance's efforts to promote sustainable agricultural production.