Cereals

• According to FAO, more than half the land with crop production potential is located in just seven tropical countries: Angola, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Brazil, the Congo and the Sudan.
• Maize is the most widespread crop in Colombia due to its special adaptation capability to Colombia's agro-climatic and socio-economic conditions. The National Federation of Colombian Cereal Producers (Federación Nacional de Cerealistas de Colombia, Fenalce), 2012
• Maize has a sizable domestic consumption: 4,053,223 tons (85% is imported). Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ministerio de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural, MADR), 2010
• The objective of the Colombian Government is to invest between 3% and 4% of the GDP in infrastructure for the sector. National Development Plan, 2010-2014

Business Opportunities

Production

• Eight (8) departments with maize production potential: Cordoba, Cesar, Santander, Valle, Tolima, Huila, Meta and Vichada.
• Colombia has the third highest annual rainfall rate in Latin America and the eleventh highest worldwide.
• Its tropical location and geographical characteristics favour the development of agricultural activities.
• Colombia has a crop production potential of 12.7% (14.5 million hectares) of its national territory. MADR, 2010

Research & development

• The policy on agricultural technology innovation through production chain research and innovation agendas headed by the Colombian Corporation for Agricultural Research (CORPOICA) (a diversified entity that provides technological know-how and solutions to the agricultural sector, with 7 research centres, 8 experimental facilities and 270 researchers). National Development Plan, 2010-2014

Regions

• Cordoba
• Cesar
• Santander
• Valle de Cauca
• Tolima
• Huila
• Altillanura