Product of ex-FARC combatants arrived at the most important coffee festival in the world

Since the signing of the Peace Agreement, different questions have arisen regarding its development and implementation, after 5 years, although there are important complaints regarding the violation of the rights of those reinserted, on the other hand, the productivity processes that have been undertaken by several ex-combatants, have been successful in their great most, becoming the front page in the first world countries, since Colombian coffee from these productive projects, arrived in the United Kingdom.

This presentation takes place at the largest coffee festival in the world, where the most important coffee companies are present, and in this case, through the National Reincorporation Agency and the Embassy of the United Kingdom in Colombia, rural producers were able to present their product on the market British.

Andres Stapper, Director General of the Agency for Reincorporation and Standardization (ARN), highlighted the contribution of the National Government in the development of this plan, which not only highlights the importance of resocialization agents, but also the State's commitment through economic sponsorship.

Stapper pointed out that investment in dollars exceeds 20 million and this allows us to evolve in different aspects in terms of productivity in the field, in contrast to this, he stressed: “From the National Government and the Agency for Reintegration and Normalization, we recognize the opportunities generated by the peace policy with the legality of the Lord President Iván Duque, to date, more than 4,000 productive projects approved and disbursed by the National Government, more than 8,700 people have advanced in their guarantees of economic sustainability, this has allowed to generate income within the framework of legality; with investments exceeding more than 23 million dollars, budget resources and that we have invested through international cooperation, that, in products to strengthen our field, the Colombian countryside”.

At the same time, the director of ARN emphasizes that these processes seek to highlight the importance of coffee and cocoa, as flagship products of Colombian agriculture. In this case, the government of President Iván Duque intends to present these opportunities for strengthening the countryside and, likewise, the possibility of undertaking a transition to the legality of more than 13,000 former combatants, who were part of the armed conflict.

The main protagonists of this development project, together with the National Reincorporation Agency, highlight that this process becomes a hope for the more than 1000 signatories of the Peace Agreement, who have decided to build their future from coffee farming, since in the development of their agronomic tasks they allow their lives to turn their lives around far from conflict.

In the face of this, testimonies emerge from the ANR, stating: “5 years after the signing of the Peace Agreement, we thank the invitation made by the British Embassy in Colombia to the London Coffee Festival, we tell you that the National Coffee Table is the meeting place and articulation of dreams and hopes of 1,056 signatories of the Peace, men and women who have taken up arms and today have decided to turn their lives around and build this new scenario from coffee farming”.

This process of reincorporation has allowed the development of commercial brands, not only in relation to coffee, however, in this case, it has not only enhanced the industrial value of this product, but, in the same way, several ex-combatants have been trained in different areas related to this activity.

Brands that seek to reach other continents are preparing for their long-term expansion, from the ANR they highlight: “We have managed to establish 9 national brands and one international roasted coffee brand called Tropicos, which we hope will reach several countries, in addition, the training of more than 90 former guerrillas and former guerrilla fighters on coffee issues such as: tasting, barism and good coffee farming practices, in the same way, the export of green coffee to Italy and Australia and we hope, with the agreements that we are advancing, we can export it to more countries, in the meantime, we have achieved new sowing of more than 1,500 hectares”.