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Economic projections indicate that Honduras could be one of the countries most affected by the "Green Pact" regulation against deforestation. To prevent a negative economic impact, the current presidency of the CAC, led by the Secretary of Agriculture and Livestock, Laura Suazo, proposes the countries of the region prioritize unified action measures in the Central American Integration System.
According to the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Paraguay are also expected to be affected in terms of exports; Honduras in particular proposes to streamline unified protocols as a Central American region to avoid a decline in exports to the European Union.
The proposed collective actions include reducing trade barriers in regional legislation, with special attention to sanitary and phytosanitary measures, limiting technical trade barriers, streamlining customs, digitalizing processes, and exchanging information between countries more expeditiously to favor the business environment.
Facilitating the purchase and exchange of food among the countries of the region is a key proposal to avoid shortages of basic grains in Central America and the Dominican Republic. It is proposed that a multilateral strategy be created to guarantee strategic reserves to respond to agrifood emergencies by promoting inclusive programs with the participation of family farming.
The need to deepen integration processes was also raised, promoting free, transparent, and sustainable trade, considering the opportunity to take advantage of the natural wealth and productive efficiency that will increase the presence of Central American products in the world market.
At the meeting, it was considered a priority to implement a more efficient environmental economy, being the main challenge that addresses climate action. The proposed actions encompass the opportunities that, as a region, will enable progress to be made in fulfilling the Plan for Agrifood and Nutritional Security of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (SAN CELAC).
The Central American Agricultural Council, now led by Honduras, also calls for the universalization and improvement of agricultural research, strengthening product traceability or the identification of product origin to promote competitiveness and sustainable development.
February 3, 2024/ Secretary of Agriculture and Livestock/ Honduras.
https://www.prensa.sag.gob.hn/
