Colombia

The competitiveness of a large number of Colombian agricultural crops and livestock products is evaluated by Track 1 methodologies, through trade-based and cost-price formulas for competitiveness. The cost-price analyses are carried out by the department to incorporate the spatial dimension of competitiveness. To illustrate the richness of competitiveness analysis the results are discussed and qualified, they are applied to scenarios for Colombian agricultural growth prospects, and Colombian agricultural policies are reviewed in light of the competitiveness analysis. The competitiveness of high-value crops is contrasted with that of basic grains. Quality and marketing constraints are reviewed for a number of products. To illustrate the role of competitiveness analysis for policy formulation, the policy areas discussed include export and pricing policies, agricultural fiscal policy, land tenure policy, agricultural research policy, and the incidence of policy by farm size group.