Protected Horticulture

Executive Summary

Family farming in Latin American and Caribbean vegetable production is characterized by traditional open field production, highly vulnerable to adverse environmental conditions (high temperatures, droughts, floods, photo-inhibition), low-tech and lacking in business focus. In response to this challenge, FONTAGRO, together with Costa Rica, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Colombia, financed the proposal that aims to contribute to the improvement of the competitiveness of horticultural systems of family agriculture through technological innovations for the sustainable intensification and diversification of production under protected conditions.

The technological solution

The following activities will be carried out:

i) prioritization of horticultural species with greater potential for production in high temperature areas under protected conditions,

ii) identify market segments to validate the technological innovations generated,

iii) evaluate performance of prototype protection structures against biotic and abiotic threats to improve productivity and horticultural quality,

iv) validate and adjust technological recommendations to improve the adaptability, productivity and quality of vegetables under protected conditions in family farming systems,

v) transfer technological innovations for the production of vegetables under protected conditions through learning schools and participatory validation,

vi) determine the added value of applied technological innovations and

vii) consolidate a platform for the exchange of experiences, knowledge and strengths among project member countries on the issue of vegetable production under protected conditions in the tropics.

Results

Beneficiaries

The beneficiaries of the project are small vegetable producers located in high temperature areas in Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic.

• Approximately 6,000 producers from Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic

• Approximately 40 producer associations from Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic

• Approximately 2,500 agricultural technical assistants from Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic

• Approximately 800 students of agricultural careers related to the agricultural sectors of Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic.

Sustainable Development Goals

Main donors

Dissemination products