Colombia’s Coffee Production To Range Around 12 million Bags in 2023: FNC’s Manager German Bahamon
Colombia’s Coffee Production To Range Around 12 million Bags in 2023: FNC’s Manager German Bahamon
Bogota (Coffee Network )-Colombia’s coffee production is expected to range around 12 million bags of 60-kg in the calendar year 2023, while markets should anticipate a good coffee production for the second half of the year, German Bahamon, general manager of the coffee growers federation said.
“Coffee farming is growing and will grow in a good way, that is, we have a coffee park that is healthy and was waiting for light to benefit the production of the coffee plantations. We believe, according to technical analysis, that (production ) is in the order of 12 million close to 12 million,” Bahamon said in the coffee-producing city of Manizales.
Colombia produced 5.968 million bags of coffee in January-July, down from 6.371 million bags in the same period last year, according to the most recent figures of FNC. In the 12-month period--considered a good gauge to predict total production in the calendar year-- Colombia, the world's third largest coffee producer, yielded 10.680 million bags, down 11% from the same period last year when output was 12.023 million bags.
Coffee growers insisted that the low price is their biggest problem at the moment ─because currently the cost of production exceeds the marketing price, which is generating losses.
Bahamon requested the national government to strength the National Stabilization Fund, which has COP330 billion ($80.5 million), and it should be used now during times of low coffee prices.
"Today we have COP330 billion for times in which we need to use it like the current one, so we are going to review it with the (finance minister) Ricardo Bonilla, and we are looking to do some work tables to delve into the issue that allow the Fund Committee to be nurtured, “ he said.
Regarding the statements of President Gustavo Petro, regarding the need for a change within the National Federation of Coffee Growers in terms of economic austerity, Bahamon indicated that there is indeed a restructuring process within FNC. "It is an entity that has been managed in a responsible way that we are seeking austerity, that is my commitment, the transformation of the Federation and the fine-tuning in this new commercial dynamic,” he added without providing further details.
Bahamon asked coffee growers to defend not the manager, but the National Federation of Coffee Growers, referring to the constant attacks of Petro, who wants to replace him, ignoring the transparent process that led to the election of Bahamon.
The distance between Petro and FNC
This division between Petro and FNC began earlier this year when Petro tried to stop the election of the new general manager of FNC, which was defined after four months of work and interviews with the different candidates. When Bahamon was elected, he questioned the election with a twitter claiming: “This is the new president of the Federation of Coffee Growers. I thought it was time for dialogue and common construction. I will dialogue with their regional grassroots organizations,” he warned.
From there the division was maintained, so that later in a meeting in Sevilla (Valle del Cauca), he again questioned the Federation and the manager, stating: "While we know the names of great bureaucrats with illustrious surnames directing the Federation, we did not find the name of a pensioner farmer".
Although the coffee growers, through the manager, have sought to meet with the president, the national president has kept his distance from the union and his warning to make profound changes.
By Diana Delgado
