Colombia's Agricultural Business Opinion Survey (EOEA) has shown agricultural investors are discouraged by the sector's prospects this year, with only 17% of respondents citing favorable economic conditions, according to website Portafolio.com.co.

The story reported negative expectations for production recovery to meet local demand with continued complaints about production costs, despite 'attractive' prices at the retail level.

The proportion of survey respondents who predicted a rise in input prices for the first quarter of this year increased from 6% to 19%, despite improved weather forecasts.

One of the major concerns highlighted in the survey was the low level of infrastructure investment in late-2010 falling from 13% to 9%, while machinery investment fell from 10.6% to 7%, the story reported.

The survey showed 70% of farmers were hit by the effects of a cold wave in winter, including 65% of banana growers, the story reported. Respondents also called on the government for subsidies, credits, infrastructure support and disease prevention programs to offset the negative effects of the cold wave.

Source: www.freshfruitportal.com