ACTUAL STATE OF COLOMBIAN POMOLOGY AND PROSPECTS FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT

Horticulture in Colombia includes the areas of floriculture, pomology, olericulture, production of medicinal and aromatic plants, and urban horticulture. Promotion and development of fruit production sector in Colombia represents a major source of agricultural growth, rural employment generation, and equitable development for different regions, since fruit crops could be settled in different climatic zones of the country making an efficient and sustainable production at scales ranging from micro, small and medium to large producers and companies. During the past four decades the area planted in fruit crops expresses a dynamics of constant growth, increasing their presence in areas devoted to non-tradable crops and total agricultural area without coffee. Thus, while in 1970 the share of fruit crops in non-tradable area was 1.6%, in 2005 it was 12.6%. The areas planted with fruits in Colombia had increased from 191,035 in 2003 to 225,325 ha in 2007 representing a growth of 17.9%, while the production volumes increased from 2,675,736 to 3,279,264 t in the same period for 47 fruit species. The National Fruit Plan (PFN) is a proposal formed with coherent set of objectives, strategies, and programs, based on a vision, seeking initial goal to double the area of domestic fruit production, ensure the conditions of technology and innovation for sustainable production and quality, add fruit value chain, and achieve a full link with the international markets. It is intended that participants know the main developments in Colombian fruit production, challenges and opportunities for the next decade.