Integrated Fruit Production Program, Valle del Cauca Department, Colombia

This case promotes sustainability and resilience in agri-food chains, benefiting 7,000 producers, increasing yields by 29%, and improving well-being in 38 municipalities. It integrates biotechnologies and advanced practices to strengthen production.

Context of the story

The Valle del Cauca, located in southwest Colombia, stands out for its rich agricultural diversity and thriving fruit industry, which has been a historical pillar in the local and national economy. Since 2004, the departmental government has been driving the development of the fruit sector through the "Consolidation and Projection Plan for horticultural and fruit-growing agro-industrial activity in the Department of Valle del Cauca". Starting in 2016, the Corporation for Social and Cultural Development of Valle del Cauca (CORPOVALLE) has led the Integrated Fruit Production Program, a regional strategy to strengthen small fruit producers in organizational, technical, and market access aspects.

Faced with the organizational, productive, and commercial barriers that hindered the growth of producers in Valle del Cauca, this Program emerged, focused on improving access to agricultural technologies and on capacity building.

The implemented initiative

The Integraed Fruit Production Program in Valle del Cauca, Colombia, has been implemented for six years, adapting and advancing according to the results of interventions carried out in the territory. The Program aims to increase the income of small and medium-sized fruit and vegetable producers in the area while enhancing their quality of life, fostering production, profitability, and sustainable well-being in the horticultural and fruit-growing sector.

Strengthening of organizations and management of strategic alliances.

The technological solution

There is comprehensive support for producers within organizations and cooperatives, providing integral assistance that considers the social, economic, environmental, and territorial needs of producers. The approach encompasses the strengthening of organizational structures to the provision of essential productive assets, with continuous monitoring and access to specialized technical knowledge. Additionally, the Program acknowledges the importance of managing effective commercial partnerships, integrating marketers into the production chain to optimize margins and access broader and more profitable markets, thus benefiting over 7,000 small and medium-sized fruit producers in Valle del Cauca and substantially contributing to the economic and social development of the region.

"Thanks to the Integrated Fruit Production Program, we have advanced in all processes, from organizational and technical aspects to administrative and commercial ones. As such, we have been able to generate better opportunities for our partners."

Luz Diana Gordillo

Participating countries

Colombia

Type of project

Results

The Program has consolidated its position as an essential initiative for fruit and vegetable producers, contributing to the strengthening of rural associations, the expansion of cultivated areas and productive yields, and the creation of commercial partnerships that drive the agricultural sector towards sustainability and growth. Standing out for its focus on collecting baseline data and conducting comprehensive analysis of results, the Program has proven to be a pivotal initiative with tangible impacts, including organizational strengthening, increased cultivated areas, and notable improvements in yields and product quality. With over 80 beneficiary associations and more than 7,000 directly impacted farmers, the Program has acted as a catalyst in forming productive and commercial alliances, significantly contributing to the sustainable development of the agricultural sector in the region.