Communiqué from the FNC regarding the strikes in Colombia

March 1st am Bogotá Time.

 As many of you are aware, events in Colombia this week have become more   complex. 

A group of about 40,000 to 60,000 farmers (coffee growers, cocoa producers   and peasants from other sectors) are currently on strike in different regions  of  the country as an expression of concerns primarily of falling international   prices and appreciation of the Colombian currency. Thus, they are requesting
  more government support to protect them through this juncture.

The  Federation´s different bodies, its 366 Municipal Coffee Grower Committees and  15  Departmental Coffee Grower Committees, share these concerns. We have started   large programs to maintain renovations of large areas with rust resistant   varieties and see low prices as a deterrent to continue this process at the
pace  we have been able to achieve over the past few years. Thus, we have also   requested the Colombian government to increase its price support in this   critical juncture.

Although the Federation acknowledges and respects  the  producer’s right to protest, and the fact that they are indeed facing very   difficult times, our body disagrees with the way the protesters have chosen to
  achieve their objectives. Thus, it has urged throughout the last few days  coffee  growers   to abstain from activities that could threaten their safety  and  security.

The FNC regrets and condemns violent incidents that have  taken  place and its impact on the daily activity of more than 500,000 coffee  growers  who have not joined the strike. They, as well as other Colombian
citizens  and taxpayers have been affected by blockades and traffic stoppages.  The FNC  rejects all kinds of violence and stresses that the importance of the   institution and its democratic mechanisms as means to promote and facilitate   dialog and constructive discussions within the coffee growers and with the   national government.

As a way to bridge a possible solution, an   extraordinary Colombian coffee Grower´s Congress has been onvened for next   Monday, to which coffee growers leading the protest have been invited. This   event would provide a platform to reach an agreement if this cannot be reached   before. From a medium to long term point of view, Colombia’s Coffee   Industry is already feeling the positive effects of the FNC’s renovation with   rust resistant varieties as coffee production is on the upswing. Growers   produced 7.8 million bags of green coffee in 2012 and in the last 12 months  that  number has already increased to almost to 8.1 million.

Up until  today we  do not foresee large any negative effects in our current business and  planning.  Plants are not on strike, some growers are. While some shipments may  have been  delayed, most have reached seaports on time.

 Best regards,