Proyectos
Scaling-up synergetic strategies in agriculture and nutrition for food security in rural communities of Colombia.
Resumen
Tackling barriers to achieve FSN goals implies to work simultaneously in various dimensions, however, the institutions responsible about it do not coordinate actions to create synergies among them that allow overcome FSN problems in vulnerable communities. New potato varieties with better nutritional quality establish a link between agriculture and nutrition; therefore, they will be diffused in Nariño and in Cundinamarca, the main potato producer, close to Bogotá with 8 million of potential consumers. Thus, it is necessary to create a seed production system. The most important barrier for small farmers in Colombia is low productivity of crops due to bad quality of seed. In potato only 2% of the cultivated area uses certified seed (Cadena de la Papa en Colombia, 2005; MADR, 2010). In spite of excellent traits of new potato varieties and the quality of the seed delivered, these are not enough to warranty the productivity achieved. Diseases related with viruses, pathogens, affecting foliage and soil, soon contaminate the seed and deteriorate it. Innovations in agriculture are important to generate income, but it is not enough. This innovative proposal underscores the importance of coordination with institutions at national level, for developing consistent public policy and with local authorities to integrate guidelines and actions to link agriculture-nutrition to tackle undernutrition in vulnerable population. Improving their life quality implies comprehensive actions including: i) income to afford the access to food, by improving the production system and individual and collective competences, ii) enhancing the variability of diet, thought different actions like: supplementation, biofortification, diversification of food through home and school gardens, iii) educational programs taking into account cultural values and ancestral knowledge, to empower communities with special focus on women and girls. The direct potato farmer users will be: 432 potato farmers in Nariño and in Cundinamarca 150 farmers, in total, 582; and direct consumers of more nutrious potatoes will be in Nariño 145,161 and in Cundinamarca 60,484 in total 205,645. The calculations considered: 1) direct farmers, in Nariño 432 farmers are located in the influence area of Guachucal, who are just multiplying the new seeds. In Cundinamarca (municipality of Une), 150 potato farmers, who previously have participated in farmers markets program with National University and 2) consumers, it was assumed that the yield per variety and the cultivated area will be respectively, 30 ton/ha, and 30 ha in Nariño; and 25 ton/ha and 15 ha in Cundinamarca. Therefore the yield/year will be 900 ton and 375 tons in Nariño and Cundinamarca, respectively, if it is considered that in Colombia potato consumption is 60 kg per capita/year and from them 6.2 Kg are for yellow potatoes, it is expected that in Nariño 145,161 and in Cundinamarca 60,484 people consume the more nutritious potatoes for a total of 205,645 direct consumers. 842 families will benefit directly of comprehensive strategy to overcome the malnutrition. These are the families that participated directly in SAN-Nariño Project and need to be intervened because their food insecurity reached up to 90%. 371 children from community homes from ICBF will be assisted. The pregnant and lactating mothers and children under 5 will be assisted specially.
Convocatoria
Nombre de la convocatoria:Convocatoria externa
Modalidad:Convocatoria externa
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