Colombia projects an increase in sheep and goat herds to 6.6 million
With the active participation of more than 150 producers, associations, institutions, and experts led by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Rural Agricultural Planning Unit (UPRA), the virtual presentation of the Productive Management Plan (POP) for the sheep and goat chain was held. This plan projects an increase in the sector's inventory from 2.9 to 6.6 million units over 20 years.
The goal, according to the POP's socialization, is to increase the national sheep and goat inventory: from 1.8 to 4.4 million sheep, and from 1.1 to 2.3 million goats.
The meeting focused on the dissemination of the Action Plan, a programmatic phase that allows for the implementation of the defined policy guidelines. It identified the need to develop seven programs, 22 strategic initiatives, and 122 activities that address regulatory and institutional, environmental, social, productive, and market issues.
Per capita consumption of sheep and goat meat is also projected to increase by nearly 100%. Furthermore, the volume of sheep meat exports will increase tenfold, and a new export market for goat meat will be opened for the first time.
Likewise, plans are underway to reduce informality in the animal processing industry (currently close to 98%) and improve labor formalization in the sector.
"This plan not only strengthens domestic productivity and consumption, but also opens the door to international markets. It's a commitment to the well-being of producers and the real transformation of Colombian agriculture", said Dora Inés Rey Martínez, director general of UPRA.
The Sheep-Goat POP is being developed with a participatory and technical approach, gathering input from documentary and economic analysis, with interviews with stakeholders in the chain and public consultations on the documents.
"The Action Plan resulting from this process defines strategic lines of action that will address the identified challenges, driving the chain toward achieving the proposed goals and achieving direction", explained Alejandro Flórez Vanegas, leader of the POPs at UPRA.
Regarding the strategic plan, Laureano Duarte, a producer located in the Camarones district (La Guajira), emphasized that the plan was developed with sector leaders in the territories.
"Four years ago, I told the people at the Ministry of Agriculture and its entities that the best way to build this plan was with us, with visits to the territory; not from Bogotá. And we've seen how we've worked with the UPRA in La Guajira, Boyacá, and Cundinamarca, understanding the reality and proposing real solutions to improve our production", he emphasized.
The POP projects a strengthened sheep-goat supply chain, contributing to food security, productive diversification, the development of ethnic and peasant territories, and environmental sustainability. Key programs include:
With a collectively constructed, data-driven roadmap, Colombia is moving toward a more productive, formalized, and sustainable supply chain, essential for the sheep and goat sector.
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