Latin America and the CaribbeanSince the end of April, social discontent amid the third and mostsevere wave of COVID-19 infections has translated into protests thathave disrupted economic activities nationwide. Protests have causedroad blockades, which have paralyzed imports and exports, andcaused shortages of fuel, food and other supplies.50 Many agriculturalproducers have reportedly been unable to conduct activities or are atrisk of losing crops due to lack of inputs such as fuel and fertilizers.Thousands of jobs have been lost in the sector, and blockades haveresulted in challenges to the transport of agricultural products tomarkets.51 This could have significant implications for an alreadyalarming food insecurity situation – despite favourable productionprospects for the 2021 crop season – with harvest of the main maizeand rice season due to end in September.An end to unrest is not in sight, considering that the protest leadershipis fragmented and negotiations with the Government have recurrentlyfailed. The impacts on food markets are estimated to have significantimplications on the already escalating acute food insecurity situation.In parallel, food inflation increased by over 9 percent year-on-year inMay 2021, likely because of supply chain disruptions, among otherfactors.52 Due to the secondary effects of COVID-19, poverty levelsreached 42 percent in 2020. This amounts to 3.5 million additionalpeople falling below the poverty line and brings the total of people atpotential risk of losing access to food to 21 million. 53The domestic currency has lost 7 percent of its value since January

Misión para la Transformación del Campo Colombiano