The agricultural sector continues to play a pivotal role in Colombia’s economic recovery, emerging as a key driver of national growth in the first quarter of 2025. According to the latest GDP quarterly report from the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE), the agriculture, livestock, hunting, forestry, and fishing sector grew by 7.1% compared to the same period in 2024, significantly outpacing the overall GDP growth of 2.7% for the same quarter.
Coffee and Aquaculture Lead Growth
Coffee spearheaded this surge with a remarkable 31.3% increase, followed by fishing and aquaculture at 18.2%. Other subsectors showing strong performance included forestry (11.4%), livestock (8.9%), and non-coffee crops (2.4%). Notably, no division within the sector experienced a decline during this period. Production also rose considerably in key agricultural products such as cocoa beans (33.3%), parchment coffee (32.9%), and raw milk (12.1%), reinforcing the sector’s strategic importance for food systems and exports, according to an official press release.
Outpacing National Growth
The sector’s value-added growth was 4.4 percentage points higher than the national GDP growth and 2.8 percentage points higher than its performance in the same period of 2024, highlighting both short-term momentum and long-term progress.
This economic dynamism is also strengthening Colombia’s trade position. Increased production of coffee, cocoa, and palm oil has bolstered the country’s agri-food exports, helping to mitigate risks associated with global tariff tensions.
Government Commitment to Sustainable Agricultural Growth
Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Martha Carvajalino emphasized the need to strengthen resilience-focused strategies to sustain growth in the agricultural sector. “We must advance in market diversification as a key to growth, as well as expand and safeguard aquaculture, one of the most important activities in the first quarter of the year. The rise in coffee harvests and international prices also contributed to the growth of this crucial subsector,” stated the head of the agricultural portfolio.
She added, “This demonstrates not only the commitment of the National Government’s agricultural sector to place agriculture at the center of the national economy but also the potential to move towards sustainable development centered on land work and agri-food production, while caring for the environment,” affirmed Carvajalino.
A Promising Outlook for Rural Development
This robust performance adds to the recent positive outcomes of the rural policy of the Government of Change, including increased agri-food exports and reduced rural unemployment. With strategic investments and sustained support, Colombia’s agricultural sector is not only boosting the economy but also paving the way for a more resilient and inclusive rural future.
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