The indigenous community of San Francisco, in Colombia, is a successful model of sustainable agricultural production that respects the environment.
ABIJÁN FERNÁNDEZ
Community of San Francisco, Colombia
“We are trying to mitigate the effects of climate change. That is why we grow crops that use agroforestry systems. With this type of crop, we don’t burn the forest, but rather, help combat climate change.”
The Fundación Caminos de Identidad has implemented a cropping system that respects nature while providing enough to meet the needs of the families in this community. Each family has access to an orchard like this one or to a “chagra,” or small farm. These trees allow for a future.
JUAN PABLO ZÁRATE
Expert in tropical agriculture, FUCAI
“Here the elderly say the rich person is the one with seeds and land to cultivate. That is the wealthy person.”
ABIJÁN FERNÁNDEZ
Community of San Francisco, Colombia
“We don’t have money. Money is what we see here, the farm. This is where we get everything for every family’s kitchen. This is where we get abundance and what we call 'life plans.' We work to always have abundance for our families.”
The growing communities needed more land to cultivate, so they burned the forest or exploited untouched land. With so much continuous cultivation, the land was irrevocably damaged. To restore it, this new system has been introduced. It forgoes chemical substances and instead uses natural fertilizers.
JUAN PABLO ZÁRATE
Expert in tropical agriculture, FUCAI
“We combine indigenous and technical knowledge to strengthen the land and to establish models to recover animal and plant species. The goal is to have nourishment for the people, the plants, and the animals.”
In this way, families can obtain a natural cuisine with adequate and varied nutrients. Interaction with the city and the subsequent introduction of industrial food has created health problems and nutritional deficiencies in some community members.
JUAN PABLO ZÁRATE
Expert in tropical agriculture, FUCAI
“We use a report called 'from scarcity to abundance' to show people the abundance in the Amazon. We want them to see and take part in the diversity.”
These environmentally friendly practices reflect the indigenous population’s deep understanding of and ability to care for the Amazon, a natural patrimony that provides for the whole world.
