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The finalizing of the new U.S.-
Colombia Free Trade Agreement
during 2012 has to be one of the
bright spots for the U.S. rice
industry. Now with duty free access beginning
with 79,000 tons milled basis in 2012
and increasing 3 percent each year, the
U.S. rice leadership is learning more about
this beautiful country and its rice culture.
The US Rice Producers Association
(USRPA) has been involved in the
Colombian market since the organization
was formed in early 1998. Back then, the
U.S. exported some 200,000 tons of rough
rice due to emergency measures caused by
weather disasters.
Columbian Rice Organizations
To better understand this important market,
one must know some basic information
about the Colombian rice industry and
FEDEARROZ – the National Federation
of Rice Producers – and INDUARROZ –
the National Rice Millers Association.
FEDEARROZ is an national association
whose members are the country’s rice
farmers. It was founded in 1947 when rice
farmers from several different growing
regions realized the need to form an organization
to represent their interests.
Gildardo Armel, a coffee grower, played a
role in the early development as he began
to farm rice on his properties.
Jorge Ruiz Quiroga, considered a pioneer
in the technology of new varieties of
rice crop development, also played an
important early role. Today, the mission of
FEDEARROZ is the defense and representation
of Colombia’s rice farmers with an
objective to support technical development,
profitability and market conditions
that best serve producers.
INDUARROZ, Colombia’s milling
organization was created in 1965 with the
objective to guarantee the sustainability of
the rice business and the competitiveness
of those in the market chain. INDUARROZ
represents the “industrials” (mill
members) on the public and private stage,
both nationally and in the international
marketplace. In 2006, it joined an umbrella
chamber known as ANDI, the National
Association of Colombian Businesses similar
to a chamber of commerce, in order to
consolidate and institutionalize the sector
and offer more services to their members.
INDUARROZ buys 100 percent of the
national rice production.
The USRPA has maintained an excellent
working relationship with both of these
Colombian rice organizations and has participated
year each in their national rice
conferences, hosted delegations and kept
an ongoing dialogue. Both FEDEARROZ
and INDUARROZ have confirmed their
participation in the USRPA’s Rice Market
& Technology Convention that will take
place in Miami, May 28-30, 2013
For more, visit www.usriceproducers.com. |
