The last quarter of 2005 was marked by a number of key activities directed towards the formulation of a Common Agricultural Policy for Central America. This effort has been assigned high priority by the Council of Ministers of Agriculture (CAC) of the region and is being carried out with the support of RUTA and its partner agencies. The common agricultural policy will make it possible to improve harmonization with the Central American customs union and enhance the countries’ capacity to address the issues raised FTAs, especially agreements with the United States and other trading blocs.

The general directors of policy from the ministries of agriculture of Central America met on 30 November in San José, Costa Rica, at the central headquarters of IICA, to discuss the preliminary proposal on elements to be considered in formulating the Central American Agricultural Policy, as well as the criteria for defining terms of reference and a work schedule.

Róger Guillén, Executive Secretary of CORECA-CAC, proposed the elements to be considered in formulating the Central American Agricultural Policy, as well as a description of the duties of the regional working group that will be responsible for drafting the policy.

The ministers of agriculture of five Central American countries have already appointed their representatives to the working group, as follows: Román Solera, Costa Rica; Edgar Cruz, El Salvador; Anabella Osorio, Guatemala; Roberto Villeda, Honduras; and Livio Sáenz, Nicaragua. This group, with the support of the Executive Secretariat of CAC, RUTA, IICA, social agencies and different experts, will be responsible for defining the geographic, temporal, legal and institutional scope of the policy. It has been suggested that it should cover the seven countries of the Isthmus, beginning with the Central American countries that signed DR-CAFTA. The policy, which would be binding, would have a duration of ten years. It should be finalized by October 2006.

As a general rule, the Central American Agricultural Policy will be drawn up in a broad-based process of consultation with actors in the public and private sectors and civil society, both at the national level in each member country and at the regional level. Agreements on the policy will also be discussed at other Central American ministerial forums concerned with the subject, such as those involved in environment, health, economic and other issues.

HARMONIZATION OF COOPERATION AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL

RUTA is supporting the Central American Agricultural Council (CAC) in setting up and launching the Central American Committee on International Cooperation, the main duty of which will be to issue guidelines for harmonizing cooperation. This will be done in the context of the common agricultural policy initiative.

For more information, click here to see the document entitled Términos de Referencia para la Formulación de la Política Agrícola Centroamericana