CONVERTING SMALL HOLDER VEGETABLE FARMS TO SUSTAINABLE¹ PRODUCTION IN TROPICAL HIGH ANDEAN CONDITIONS

Small holder vegetable farms of the municipality of Cota in the Bogotá plateau in Colombia are typically one hectare or less in size. Although the climate allows for year-round production, the farmers live precariously due to a high dependence on external inputs, poor access to different sources of information on production technology and lack of control over market prices. An interactive methodology for conversion to eco¬logical farming practices based on the European prototyping experience was developed with the farmers. Here, a more participatory approach was used in the diagnosis of restrictions to sustainability, as well as for the implementation of the conversion process. The latter is based on ecological sequence, farmers’ needs and capacities, and market demand. Furthermore, upscaling the conversion process was studied by proposing an option for redesigning the landscape within the context of ecological production.
Because ecological farming is based on observation and inference to understand the relationship between plants and their environment and so prevent future problems, the effects of actions must be looked at in the long term. The farmers were therefore required to go through a serious learning process in order to know how to implement ecologically sound agricultural practices. By combining their farming experience and knowledge of the area with scientific knowledge on soil microbiology, plant nutrition, pest and disease management including enhancement of biological control through the establishment of live fences, a viable methodology for converting farms has emerged. An interesting alternative is now available to the farmers to improve their income by supplying the growing niche for ecologically friendly produce in the local market.