Paraguay wants to expand organic farming, which currently covers about 160,000 hectares, includes approximately 7,500 certified producers and generated nearly $40 million in exports over the past year, according to figures presented by President Santiago Peña. He presented the data as a starting point for attracting investment, bringing in new producers and increasing the added value of products.
He made the statement at the opening of the 17th Annual Ordinary Assembly of the Inter-American Commission on Organic Agriculture (CIAO), held in Asunción. The regional organization promotes cooperation and the development of organic production in the Americas.
Peña said the sector had moved beyond being a niche activity and had become a concrete opportunity for rural development, job creation and access to higher-value markets. To turn this potential into growth, he called for clear state policies, reliable institutions and compliance with certification standards and good practices.
The president also linked the expansion of organic production to Paraguay’s position as one of South America’s agricultural hubs. In his view, hosting the CIAO assembly could help strengthen regional cooperation and develop an agenda that turns sustainable production into economic opportunities for rural communities.
Israel Vaca Jiménez, a member of the CIAO, said that “organic production has no ceiling” and that the sector was experiencing a phase of rapid growth driven by market access, innovation, investment and job creation.
“We have the opportunity to build an important future for the organic sector, but that future will not be built tomorrow; it begins today,” Vaca Jiménez said. He advocated sustained coordination among producers, researchers, public agencies and private companies.
The announced strategy therefore depends on more than increasing production volumes. The implication is that Paraguay will need to turn expanding certified production into processing chains, higher-value products and consistent market access. This could, over time, increase the presence of traceable Paraguayan products in organic food markets.