Milk producers in Antioquia are facing a serious crisis due to the decrease in dairy consumption, which has led to a significant reduction in their sales. This situation has caused large companies to pay up to 15% less of the cost of milk to producers, according to the presidents of the dairy unions.
Antioquia, which produces around 3.5 million liters of milk a day, with 70% coming from the north of the department, is feeling the impact of this crisis. Per capita milk consumption in Colombia has decreased since 2018, when 148 liters per inhabitant per year were recorded.
Felipe Pinilla, president of the National Association of Milk Producers, has called on the National Government and large companies to reduce the cost of dairy products in order to stimulate sales.
The crisis is also exacerbated by the importation of liquid and powdered milk into the country, which puts additional pressure on local producers. Some businessmen have chosen to sell their assets and abandon the dairy business due to the lack of attention from the National Government.
Small and medium-sized businesses in the sector are urgently calling on the country to support the purchase of national milk. The situation is so critical that Lorena Builes, from AB & C Inversiones-Frigoporcinos Bello Lechero, expresses her concern about the imminent losses facing the sector.
This crisis not only affects producers, but also consumers. Berta Gaviria, a resident of the Moravia neighborhood, points out that the economic income of many families is not enough for the daily consumption of dairy products, which contributes to the decrease in demand.
Antioquia’s milk producers hope that their call for help will be heard and measures will be implemented to support the national dairy sector and encourage the consumption of local products.
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