Crisis in the dairy sector in Colombia threatens the survival of local farmers.

The Colombian dairy sector is facing one of its most severe crises in recent years, largely caused by internal and external factors that have destabilized both milk production and consumption. The situation began to develop a year and a half ago in the southern departments of the country, such as Cauca, Nariño, and Caquetá, but it has quickly spread to other regions, affecting a broad spectrum of farmers, mostly small and medium-sized, who depend on this activity for their daily livelihood. Caterine Marentes, a producer from Cundinamarca, reflects the anguish of many of her colleagues. On her small plot, where she keeps four cows that previously produced up to 30 liters of milk daily, the price of milk has fallen drastically. In January 2023, a liter of raw milk sold for 1,900 pesos, while today it is offered between 800 and 1,000 pesos, an unsustainable situation that forces producers to accept any price for their product. This phenomenon has generated a sense of hopelessness in a sector that has been a pillar of the rural economy in Colombia for years. Nationally, it is estimated that there are between 320,000 and 350,000 farmers dedicated to the dairy industry. A large percentage of them faces a bleak outlook, with a 21% decrease in milk consumption over the last three years. Óscar Gutiérrez, director of the organization Dignidad Agropecuaria, points out that trade agreements have contributed to this crisis, as milk imports have displaced domestic production, particularly affecting those operating family farms, which represent 80% of the sector. The situation is further complicated by the growing import of dairy products from the United States and the European Union. According to Gutiérrez, last year, 72,000 tons of milk were imported, equivalent to 35 days of production for Colombian farmers. This has led to prices being adjusted downward, as large companies prefer to import rather than buy milk from local producers, who face higher production costs and difficulties in marketing. Marentes is also faced with the dilemma of what to do with her milk, as the demand for making cheeses and other dairy products is insufficient. Large industries, which operate with competitive prices due to subsidies and advantages in their home countries, have left Colombian producers at a crossroads. With tariffs on imported milk scheduled to disappear completely in 2026 and 2028, the future of national production looks uncertain. The role of large companies in the sector is crucial in this story. Firms like Alpina, Colanta, and Nestlé have increased their imports, affecting local producers. Additionally, they have closed collection centers in regions where collection costs are high, further exacerbating the situation. Ramiro Camacho, a 75-year-old farmer, notes that the government has ignored their complaints and proposals, leading to growing frustration in the sector. Producers have begun to organize and have announced protests in Bogotá in an attempt to draw the government’s attention and demand measures that ensure fair competition in the market. Camacho advocates for a review of profit margins along the production chain, suggesting that large companies should bear a greater cost when purchasing local milk to ensure the sector's viability. The crisis in the Colombian dairy sector is aggravated by other factors, such as rising prices for inputs and fertilizers, complicating the situation for farmers even further. Andrea Ríos, from the National Association of Financial Institutions (ANIF), highlights that climate change and the global economy have increased production costs, leaving many producers at a disadvantage compared to more competitive imported products. What looms is an uncertain outlook for the future of the dairy sector in Colombia. The combination of imports, declining consumption, and lack of government support has created a hostile environment for farmers. Marentes describes a reality where business practices are opaque, and farmers are continuously battered by decisions that seem detached from their needs. Meanwhile, producers continue to seek options to survive in a market that appears to offer them few alternatives. The crisis not only affects farmers but also has implications for the country’s food security and the rural economy in general. Without effective intervention, the Colombian dairy sector could face a grim future, where family and cultural traditions linked to milk production are relegated to history.