The Colombian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Rodolfo Zea Navarro, filed a bill before the Congress of the Republic that seeks the adhesion of Colombia, as a cocoa producer, to the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO), which will bring different benefits how to promote international cooperation in the world economy of the product and try to obtain fairer prices.

“Colombia's adherence to the ICCO will benefit the 52,000 cocoa families throughout the country, of which 95% are small producers. In addition, it is an important step to continue with the fulfillment that we made in this Government in the Pact for growth in the agricultural sector, specifically in the cocoa, generating more employment and profitability, "said the head of the agricultural portfolio.

In addition to the benefits mentioned above, it will also facilitate discussion between governments and the private sector on cocoa issues; strengthen the national cocoa economies of member countries; promote a sustainable cocoa economy; and it will promote transparency in the world cocoa economy, and especially in the trade of this product.

The idea is to work hand in hand, between the Ministry of Agriculture and the second committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as with the plenary sessions of Congress, in order to achieve this important adhesion.

It is worth mentioning that the cocoa bean trade is very important for Colombia in its economy. In the last nine years, Colombia has seen an increase in both production and exports of 31% and 296% respectively.

"The bet is to continue increasing the economy of cocoa cultivation by opening the borders of this product to other countries, and adhesion to the ICCO will allow it," said Minister Zea Navarro.

Finally, it is important to mention that cocoa is one of those that contributes the most to replacing crops and stabilizing a formal economy. In many cases, the crops are located in areas with public order problems such as Tumaco, Arauca, Catatumbo and others.

• In 2019, Colombia had 183,497 hectares of cocoa crops.
• In 2020, it is estimated that the increase in planted areas will be 31%, compared to 2019, reaching 189,000 hectares.
• Cocoa production in Colombia, between 2011 and 2019, showed an increase of 61%, going from 37,202 tons to 59,740 tons.
• Between January and May 2020, Colombian cocoa exports totaled US $ 46 million, which represented an increase of 14.2% compared to the same period in 2019 (US $ 40 million).
• Between January and May 2020, Colombian cocoa exports in volume totaled 13,426 tons, that is, 14.4% more than in the same period in 2019 (11,734 tons).
• 60% of the labor, employed in the cultivation, is family-type and the participation of the different cultural tasks carried out by farmers in the cultivation of cocoa corresponds to the harvest (44%,) and weed control (28 %).