Nelson Molano -sector lacteo 2018

Abstract

The dairy sector in Colombia mobilizes the rural economy through 500,000 peasant families that produce 11 million liters of milk daily. According to Nelson Molano, manager of El Pomar, the union's main challenge is informality, given that half of the supply is sold unprocessed in remote areas. To counteract this and raise annual per capita consumption from 140 to the minimum 170 liters recommended by the FAO, the industry is carrying out a national campaign together with the Ministry of Agriculture. Given the proposal of the financing law to tax the family basket, Molano warns that imposing a 19% VAT on milk would increase its price by about 300 pesos, discouraging the consumption of this vital protein and boosting the informal market by granting it unfair competitive advantages. Finally, the manager defends the nutritional value of the product compared to other drinks and explains that, while liquid milks are not imported due to logistical costs, the arrival of foreign companies with high quality standards benefits the sector by energizing and developing new product categories.