- The 5 main economic activities of Nariño
- 1- Agricultural
- 2- Production of flour
- 3- Shrimp farming
- 4- Leather industry
- 5- Mining
- References
The economy of Nariño, Colombia, is supported mainly by agricultural activity, flour production, shrimp farming, the leather industry, and mining.
The economic activity that perhaps registers the most income in this department is the cultivation of coca leaves. This practice is illegal.
Despite the strong fight by the state against criminal groups such as cartels and guerrillas, the UN continues to refer in its reports to the existence of crops of this leaf, with which cocaine is later manufactured.
Nariño is part of the Pacific and Andean regions, and its capital is San Juan de Pasto.
The 5 main economic activities of Nariño
1- Agricultural
This department is one of the few that still grows potatoes, cocoa, wheat, corn and barley. Along with these products, sugarcane of the panelera type, olloco, banana, coffee, red beans, peas, broad beans and quinoa are also grown.
The latter generates significant economic income thanks to its worldwide demand for the latest proposals related to healthy eating.
On the other hand, oil palm production is one of the most important and also controversial in this department.
It generates great income because the oil companies are the most important agro-industries in Nariño.
But on the other hand, they destroy the possibilities of maintaining crop diversity; oil palm is estimated to cause infertility in soils.
With regard to livestock activity, cattle, horses, goats, sheep and pigs are raised. This serves to feed the almost two million inhabitants of the department and to take to other Colombian states.
2- Production of flour
The flour agroindustries of Nariño occupy the fourth place of importance since 1950. They have about eight important mills and their total milling capacity is approximately 35 thousand tons per year, according to the National Supply Institute.
The location of these industries in Nariño is favored by the extensive hectares of wheat crops in the region.
3- Shrimp farming
This activity is carried out mainly in Tumaco, west of Nariño, and throughout the region that borders the Pacific Ocean.
Apart from shrimp farming, there is river and sea fishing.
4- Leather industry
This department is occupied by about 350 industries linked to the production of leather and wool.
Many of these products are not only used and sold throughout Colombia but are also marketed in Ecuador, where they are in great demand.
The port of Tumaco is the place where the vast majority of these industries reside; This favorable location allows the easy transfer of the merchandise.
5- Mining
Mining is carried out in the municipality of Barbacoas. In colonial times it represented the most important economic activity.
Currently gold, silver and platinum are mined, gold being the largest quantity in terms of weighing.
Some of these extractions are carried out illegally, so it is imprecise to determine the exact amounts of extraction.
References
- J, Viloria. (2007). Economy of the department of Nariño: rurality and isolation. Bogotá: Bank of the Republic. Retrieved on November 17, 2017 from: s3.amazonaws.com
- M, Avila; A, Franco; V, Olaya. (2011). The economy of the paramilitaries: corruption networks, business and politics. Bogotá: Random House Mondari. Retrieved on November 17, 2017 from: books.google.es
- J, Viloria. (2008). Economies of the Colombian Pacific. Bogotá: Bank of the Republic. Retrieved on November 17, 2017 from: banrep.gov.co
- P, Angle; M, from las Lajas. (2004). Socioeconomic impacts of the oil palm agribusiness in the rural population of the Tumaco municipality, Nariño department. Pasto: University of Nariño. Retrieved on November 17, 2017 from: books.google.es
- Nariño Department. Retrieved on November 17, 2017 from: banrep.gov.co