Search

Agroindustrial wastes are a type of biomass generated mainly by organic materials processing, which come from animal handling, plant cultivation and fruit and vegetable processing. The aim of this paper is to propose possible alternatives to use 19 wastes generated in the Colombian agroindustry by fruit processing. These alternatives of use are formulated based on the waste physicochemical characterization, which was carried out through proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, analysis of structural carbohydrates and extractives compounds, total phenolic compounds content and antioxidant capacity. It was found that most of the wastes can be used as raw material in thermochemical processes. It was also found that the coffee grounds have the greatest alternatives of use, which goes from co-combustion with mineral coal to obtaining secondary metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Federation of Coffee Growers (FNC) is the largest coffee growing organization in the country, and it assembles coffee growers from departments including Caldas, Antioquia, Quindío, and Risaralda. It has spent the past ninety years ensuring improvement in the quality of life for the people living in these areas. One of the FNC's many undertakings that should be emphasized is the construction of road infrastructure that allows for coffee to transported and therefore sold and the social development of the communities in its areas of influence. This paper is written by Mauricio Medina, the leader of the FNC's Social Development Unit, who emphasizes that if the projects are to be successful, it is necessary to turn to these types of experiences for post-conflict investments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers a prioritisation of primary and secondary factors that critically affect the implementation of a programme of good agricultural practices (GAP) among small fruit and coffee producers working in the department of Huila in Colombia. The paper uses the methodology of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with two decision-making groups; it reveals that the main obstacle in implementing a GAP programme is the lack of necessary investments in infrastructure with a relative importance of 21.8%, supported by the secondary critical factor 'high costs in investment', with a relative importance of 10.7% - which is without a doubt indicative of how far behind small producers are. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo is a self-sustaining, fast growing plant which works in network. With bamboo can be solved the environmental, social and economic problems affecting a place, a country or region. Colombia is the second country in America in a variety of bamboo, after Brazil, with 18 genera, 105 species and five varieties, of which 24 are endemic, 69 are woody bamboos and 36 are herbaceous bamboos. This paper describes the development of bamboo / guadua in Colombia over the past 25 years, noting the factors that have contributed positively to its development. This paper describes the diversity of Bambusoideae in Colombia and highlights the priority species with emphasis in Guadua angustifolia Kunth, the most used and promising species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present article is to prove that climate by-products can be used as agricultural insurance protection against climate unexpected, particular events in an incomplete market. Transferring risk to the market is an effective way of having protection when facing risks of diverse nature. An analytical model, as well as climate by-product pricing in the j region of Colombia, has been examined. Historical data of the region above mentioned in order to evaluate the relationship between agricultural productivity of Prx, Pry, Prz products and specific climate events such as R —rain or atmospheric precipitation— and H —temperature. Later on, a variety of call and put options will be considered based on heat and rain climatic risks in order to evaluate them theoretically. This paper thoroughly and particularly studies the analytical model in order to listen to the response from labor federations and academic groups. The present study has been framed within the field of risk and climate. The first document was presented at the International Symposium of Costa Rica in early 2009, where it obtained first place as best article in its session. At the time, conceptual guidelines were included to build an evaluation model for a climate by-product (Cruz, J. and Vargas, C. 2008). As mentioned earlier, this paper contains an analytical specification at model level, including an innovation to the model presented initially. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of the archival organization and description process of the 1964-2002 INCORA Antioquia Land Acquisition Program. The Research Center at Escuela Interamericana de Bibliotecología (the Inter-American School of Library Science) provided resources to fund the process in 2013. At first, the program had proposed and approved the writing of an "institutional and organizational archival history of the 1961-2003 INCORA Antioquia land acquisition program documentation has produced ", but because of administrative reasons of the project and they transferred the documentation to the city of Bogota. Therefore, it was impossible to write the history of the Institution. INCODER received all of the documentation of the archive corresponding to this program satisfactorily, and INCODER conducted this after an archival organization and description process pursuant to the guidelines the Nation's General Archives established for internal control investigations and periodical documental transference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-standing conflict in Colombia has inflicted substantial costs on the population and the economic development of the country. Since conflict occurs mainly in the country's rural areas, the economic impacts of violence are higher for these territories. The purpose of this paper is to describe the impact of armed conflict on Colombia's rural population and the current conditions of rural areas as well as discuss whether the peace agreements with FARC may contribute to improve these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows the outcomes of a research process that was implemented in the Pantano de Vargas area, in Boyacá - Colombia. This place faces a big issue due to bad management and treatment that farmers are giving to empty containers and packaging of pesticides, producing environmental pollution. Because of this, the main objective of this research project was carrying out a diagnosis about the collecting and disposal of waste, that allows the design of a reverse logistics process for empty pesticides containers and packaging in this irrigation unit. To fulfill this objective, information was gathered by means of bibliographical tracking, direct observation and surveys to suppliers, farmers and waste collectors in the area. Moreover, legal regulations on empty pesticides containers were reviewed. Likewise, the graphic description of the current collection was obtained and a characterization of a reverse logistics process was raised. It was evident from the main findings that people who take part in the collection and final disposal of pesticides' waste are not accomplishing the regulations, besides, the process that is taking place now is empirical and does not take into account activities that have to do with reverse logistics. A process under the light of law NTC-ISO 9001:2008 guidelines is put forward which allows the continuous improvement of itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzes the impact of the El Niño and La Niña phenomena on both precipitation and agricultural production in the Department of Atlántico. Historically, droughts, anomalous rainy periods, and floods have constantly affected this region. Findings show that under El Niño conditions, rainfall is below average, while La Niña causes above-average rainfall. Sesame and banana yields increase when rainfall is above average (usually under La Niña conditions) during the short dry season and both the first and second rainy seasons. The above-average rainfall in the dry season has a positive impact on cassava yields. Corn yields increase if the recorded rainfall in the short dry season is above average and decrease under above-average precipitation in the second rainy season. Bean yields decrease when rainfall is above average during the first and second rainy seasons and increase when rainfall is above average in the short dry season. Cotton yields decrease in cases of above-average rainfall in the second rainy season, while sorghum does not present noticeable responses to precipitation anomalies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncertainty is the natural state in which farmers make decisions. This paper studies attitudes towards risk among small-scale pineapple producers in the department of Santander, Colombia. For this purpose a random sample of 194 small-scale pineapple producers form the towns of Girón, Lebrija and Rionegro was taken. In order to determine attitudes towards risk a medium utility - non linear standard deviation approach was chosen. Results indicate that small-scale pineapple producers in Santander are reluctant to risk and show an increasing absolute reluctance and a decreasing relative reluctance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the production system of Oxalis tuberosa, Ullucus Tuberosus and Tropaeolum tuberosum in the province of Sugamuxi, Boyacá. Using random sampling, polling, interviews and rural diagnosis it was established that production areas present limitations for agriculture. 84.4% of production is destined for personal consumption. 46.8% of producers are senior adults whereas young adults are less interested in agriculture. 72% of people interviewed in establishments selling food could not identify the different tubers and despite the deep roots of tradition in older people, there is a risk these species will be lost. Contrary to this tendency, the Republic of New Zealand, where demand for tubers is increasing, is encouraging their genetic enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to show the origins, development and meanings of the social struggles that the Peasant Association of the Cimitarra River Valley (ACVC) has been conducting for over a decade as an exercise in organization of the peasant community in the midst of Colombia's social and armed conflict. The use of ethnographic methods allowed developing a deep understanding of collective action through access to the archives of the Association and through in-depth interviews. The research results focus on the idea that this Association represents an example of local development building and transformation of regional conflicts through collective action, which advocates for the communitarian autonomy and the food sovereignty of the peoples of the Magdalena Medio. This peasant association reinvents itself as a collective for the defense of human rights, as well as a civil and political subject with inclusive and democratic regional projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is on a mathematical model to determine the main parameters in the sugar cane juice extraction process by using cylindrical rollers. The main characteristic of such a process is the sugar cane compression, which makes it different from other models to extract juice. Rotation speed, roller geometry sugar cane physical mechanical characteristics involved in the process are included in the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The net water supply refers to water employed by the man for various uses including agriculture, industry, domestic and recreation; in Colombia, is defined by Resolution 0865 of 2004 the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development, where supply surface use two different reduction factors: 25% for environmental flow and 25% for water quality. The application of these two reductions is limited in most cases, applying these percentages to the lowest average monthly flow multiyear, therefore, quality studies are not directly included in this calculation. This paper presents the methodology for calculate the reduction for water quality, from the identification of appropriate quality and pollution, ICA, ICO, using information from two sub-basin tributaries of the Cauca river basin: Hondo river and Zanjón Oscuro, located in the upper Cauca River basin, finding a direct relationship between the reduction and water pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock is an important socioeconomical activity in Colombia, although it generates negative environmental impacts. The objective of this paper was to perform an environmental proposal for La Solariega farm (municipality of Fredonia-Antioquia), as a partial requirement for obtaining The Good Farming Practices certificate. The first step was to establish the environmental situation of the farm, after that, a farm planning was elaborated; and as a final step, was proposed a list of general recommendations according with Colombian environmental laws. After the farm diagnosis, it was found that the main environmental problem was related with soil and water management in the livestock production. 100% of soils are eroded by animal grazing, and there is not a breaking zone to protect the water streams as ordered by law. The concerted use of soil established was the product of an harmonization process of potential use of soil, environmental laws and farmer goals. The major environmental problems of this farm could be mitigated and prevented if suggested recommendations are adopted, and if a monitoring plan is established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture has drastically transformed landscapes and ecosystems on this planet. These changes alter the supply of goods and ecosystem services thereby impacting human well-being. There are significant environmental impacts associated with modern agriculture and green revolution technologies. This has promoted the development of agricultural production systems that try to reduce the environmental impact and/or improve the well-being of producers. Agricultural certification is one such strategy. This set of management practices promotes agricultural production that simultaneously generates some environmental, social, economic, and quality benefits. Shade-grown coffee production is one of these environmentally-friendly management practices. This paper describes this kind of agricultural production and discusses some of the changes associated with certification as well as the impact it has had on the landscape of Aratoca (Santander). The article also analyzes the differences between certified and non-certified producers. It concludes with some suggestions for the certification process in order to make it a win-win (environment-society) situation for different kinds of coffee growers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the problem of productive development management in four small rural areas located in two different rural sub-regions of the departament of Antioquia, Colombia. The question is studied under the context of productive restructuring and state decentralisation. Based on issues provided by the theory of local productive systems, a comparison is made between two identified local development models, giving a special attention to the institutional aspects and showing perspectives and limits, difficulties and deficiencies of public administrations and other social agents in managing productive changes that are happening in the specialised regions concerning farming activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]