Agricultural research, an ally for Colombia at peace
Claudia Navas, an advisor to Colombia´s High Commission for Post-Conflict Recovery, visited CIAT headquarters on 17-18 August with a clear objective: to gain a deeper knowledge of the Center´s experience in applied research and “identify effective interventions for territorial development that could be implemented during the first 18 months after the referendum on the peace agreement,” Navas said.
Based on Colombia´s nine separate experiences with disarmament, one of the lessons learned is that the first few years are critical for building confidence in the peace process. This is a long-term endeavor for the country, in which it is vital to respond rapidly and concretely to the most urgent needs, and thus prevent these from becoming the cause for a renewal of latent conflict.
“We´re in a period of peace building,” Navas noted, before starting to familiarize herself with CIAT´s wide range of experiences in applied research. These demonstrate the Center´s conviction that helping Colombia focus its energies and resources on building a stronger rural economy translates into a more solid and equitable national economy.
In a dialogue with Center researchers, Navas heard about experiences in strengthening the capacity of smallholder producers to adapt to climate change and variability; building alliances to create sustainable value chains, based on more inclusive business models; jointly designing production systems that are more environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable; and using Big Data Analytics as a tool for closing yield gaps and modernizing the national technical support system for farmers.
“Our experience as a neutral research center has enabled us to work in close collaboration with diverse partners, acting as a facilitator in the development process, with emphasis on participatory approaches for achieving sustainable development,” said Carolina Navarrete, CIAT´s regional coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Biofortified (or nutrionallly enriched) bean varieties, like those released recently in Barichara in the department of Santander; the value chain approach being used to support the development of quinoa in Colombia; and use of Big Data Analytics as a tool for agricultural development, taking into account the conditions of small-scale producers and their farms, were among the technologies and methods that most impressed Navas, who also had the opportunity to visit three projects currently underway in the department of Cauca.
These are taking place in one of the so-called Sustainable, Climate-Smart Territories, in which the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture, and Food Security (CCAFS) is working with rural communities northeast of Popayán, Cauca. The idea is to promote sustainable agriculture by improving land use for climate change adaptation, stronger food security, and higher agricultural productivity and rural incomes.
In addition, Navas learned about the experience of the Regional Center for Productivity and Innovation (Crepic) and its successful model for rural organization. This has led to the creation of the Association for Agricultural and Fish Production and Commercialization (Apropesca), which has received support from the Linking Farmers to Markets team in CIAT´s Decision and Policy Analysis (DAPA) Research Area.
Navas completed her visit to Cauca with a stop at a cassava field and small-scale processing plant. CIAT has supported cassava agro-industries in the region by providing improved cassava varieties that are better suited for sour starch production and by helping strengthen institutional aspects of the cassava value chain.
These 3 days of total immersion in experiences with applied research reinforced our shared conviction that working in close collaboration for sustainable development is vital for lasting peace in Colombia.
“These experiences offer a clear example of how research can have practical effects on the lives of rural people and can lead to changes that result in more efficient production. Now, we are identifying bottlenecks in regulatory frameworks, logistics, and infrastructure that prevent farmers from taking advantage of projects that can help enhance their quality of life” said Navas at the conclusion of her visit.