Mapeo de Actores y Necesidades de Información Agroclimática en los Cultivos de Maíz y Frijol en sitios piloto - Colombia

Este trabajo presenta los resultados del mapeo de actores y necesidades de información agroclimática en los cultivos transitorios de seguridad alimentaria: maíz y frijol arbustivo en sitios piloto en Colombia. A través del mapeo de los actores que transmiten información a los agricultores, la confianza en la información proporcionada, y las necesidades de información para la toma de decisiones, logramos entender el ancho espectro de problemas y prioridades a tomar en cuenta en la producción de estos cultivos, y proponer soluciones útiles, relevantes, confiables, sostenibles y aplicables. Con este enfoque, se llevaron a cabo 27 entrevistas semi-estructuradas con informantes clave y 12 grupos focales con un total de 151 agricultores en los departamentos de Córdoba y Santander. Los resultados evidencian que una de las prioridades de los agricultores es recibir información agroclimática confiable a escala local, que permita tomar mejores decisiones de siembra, variedades, insumos y manejo de suelos y cultivos ante eventos de variabilidad climática. Se evidencia una desconfianza en las instituciones oficiales que transmiten información climática y un sentimiento difuso de falta de interés de las instituciones hacia los pequeños agricultores. Los agricultores se endeudan para lograr producir fríjol arbustivo y maíz o subsidian la producción por otros cultivos, mientras el acceso a un seguro agrícola es limitado. El formato preferido para recibir información climática es a través de mensajes de texto (celular) y mensajes en la radio local. Grupos de interacción presencial o virtual entre agricultores y expertos parecen una alternativa útil y confiable para recibir y compartir información en tiempo real. Sin embargo, los agricultores están interesados en adoptar el manejo agrícola tras un pronóstico si: a) la información es local, b) proviene de una fuente considerada confiable como expertos u otros agricultores, c) se transmite en el momento adecuado para la toma de decisiones y d) si sus efectos son medibles, verificables y validados, por ejemplo, a través de resultados de pilotos o parcelas experimentales en dos años consecutivos. ENGLISH This working paper presents the results of the mapping of actors and of agroclimatic information needs in pilot sites in Colombia for two annual crops, fundamental for food security: maize and bush beans. The mapping of the actors that transmit information to farmers, the confidence the latter have in the information provided, and their information needs for decision-making, allows us to understand the broad spectrum of issues and priorities to be taken into account in the production of these crops, and suggest solutions that are useful, relevant, reliable, sustainable and applicable. Under this assumption, we conducted 27 semi-structured interviews with key informants and 12 focus groups with a total of 151 farmers in the departments of Córdoba and Santander. Results show that one of the priorities of farmers is to receive reliable local agroclimatic information that enables them to take decisions on planting, varieties, inputs, soil and crop management, that address climate variability. We find a generalized distrust of official institutions that transmit weather information, and a feeling that institutions are not interested in smallholders. Farmers resort to indebtedness to produce beans and maize, or subsidize production with cash crops, while access to agricultural insurance is limited. The format preferred to receive weather information is text messages (phone) and information through the local radio. The creation of groups of farmers and experts who interact in person or virtually seem a useful and reliable alternative to receive and share information in real time. However, farmers are only interested in adopting farm management changes after a forecast if: a) the information is local, b) the information is given by a trusted source such as experts or other farmers, c) the information is transmitted at the right time for decision-making d) the effects of taking these decisions are measurable, verifiable and validated, for example, through pilots or results from experimental plots in two consecutive years

Establecimiento de ensayos para modelación de frijol en el departamento del Cauca, Colombia

En el marco de los proyectos Soluciones Digitales Integradas Agroclimáticas (Agroclimas Fase 2) y Territorios Sostenibles Adaptados al Clima (TeSAC) ambos parte del programa de Investigación de CGIAR sobre Cambio Climático, Agricultura y Seguridad Alimentaria (CCAFS), se busca generar evidencia de la implementación de servicios climáticos participativos. Específicamente en el TeSAC de Cauca1, CIAT-CCAFS con el apoyo de los socios estratégicos, en particular Fundación EcoHabitats, se adelantan procesos de capacitación relacionados manejo agronómico, información climática y la toma de decisiones basadas en condiciones de tiempo y clima (Fernández Ortega et al, 2017). En este contexto CIAT-CCAFS está realizando intervenciones en sistemas de producción de fríjol del TeSAC del Cauca orientadas a mejorar la toma de decisiones con respecto a la variabilidad climática histórica y pronosticada.Within the framework of the Agro-climatic Digitally Integrated Solutions (Agroclimas Phase 2) and Climate-Smart Villages (CSV) projects, both parts of the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), seeks to generate evidence of the implementation of participatory climate services. Specifically, in the Cauca’s CSV, CIAT-CCAFS with the support of the strategic partners, in particular, EcoHabitats Foundation, has been carrying training processes related to agronomic management, climate information and decision-making based on weather and climate conditions (Fernández Ortega et to, 2017). In this context, CIAT-CCAFS is carrying out interventions in bean production systems of Cauca’s CSV aimed at improving decision-making regarding historical and predicted climate variabilit

Local, reliable and timely agro-climatic information: a requirement of Colombian farmers

Awareness of climatic information relevant for future decisions through climatic forecasts is not enough to support farmer’s decision-making. It is necessary to look for agricultural management alternatives that allow farmers to adapt to climatic conditions and implement efficient and sustainable management systems, within a framework of effective communication with farmers (Jones, 2003; Pulwarty et al., 2003). In Latin America are very few the initiatives related to climatic forecasts. The Project “Agroclimatic services and food security information for improved decision-making – AgroClimas” aims to support private and public sector actors in Colombia, Guatemala and Honduras to implement and use agro-climatic risk management tools, validated and adjusted to the needs of final users. This info note presents results from a mapping of actors and agro-climatic information needs in crops important for food security (maize and bush beans), in pilot sites of the project in Colombia. The hypothesis underlying the study is that through mapping actors who transmit information (climatic, prices, technical and financial) to farmers, knowing if this information is considered reliable, identifying unattended information needs and preferred formats to receive it that would support production decisions, one can devise useful, relevant, reliable, sustainable applicable solutions

Los videojuegos, una realidad para la educación de los niños del C.E.R Buenos Aires, municipio de Santa Rosa de Osos, Antioquia.

Este proyecto de investigación se centra en el reconocimiento de los videojuegos como una nueva forma de entretenimiento que ha traído consigo la tecnología en la actualidad, despertando en los niños un especial interés debido a las experiencias y sensaciones que se producen al interinar con dichos juegos electrónicos

Información agro-climática local, confiable y oportuna, una necesidad de los agricultores colombianos

Conocer información climática relevante hacia el futuro a través de las predicciones climáticas, no es suficiente para apoyar la toma de decisiones de los agricultores. Es necesario buscar alternativas de manejo agrícola para adaptarse a las condiciones climáticas e implementar mecanismos eficaces y sostenibles, bajo un marco de comunicación efectiva con el agricultor (Jones, 2003; Pulwarty et al., 2003). En América Latina son pocas las iniciativas relacionadas con predicción agroclimática. Por lo anterior, el proyecto “Servicios agroclimáticos e información de seguridad alimentaria para una mejor toma de decisiones – AgroClimas” busca apoyar a los actores del sector privado y público de Colombia, Guatemala y Honduras para implementar y usar herramientas de gestión del riesgo agro-climático, validadas y ajustadas a las necesidades de los usuarios finales. Esta nota presenta los resultados del mapeo de actores y necesidades de información agroclimática en cultivos de seguridad alimentaria (maíz y frijol arbustivo), en sitios piloto del proyecto en Colombia. El trabajo se basa en el supuesto que, mapeando los actores que transmiten información de clima, de precios, financiera y agronómica a los agricultores, conociendo la confianza en la información proporcionada, identificando las necesidades de información y los formatos preferidos para recibir información que apoye la toma de decisiones productivas, se pueden proponer soluciones útiles, relevantes, confiables, sostenibles y aplicables

Latin America ClimateSmart Villages AR4D sites: 2016 Inventory

Inventory of CSA practices in Latin America’s ClimateSmart Villages

Global drivers of food system (un)sustainability: A multi-country correlation analysis

At present, our ability to comprehend the dynamics of food systems and the consequences of their rapid ‘transformations’ is limited. In this paper, we propose to address this gap by exploring the interactions between the sustainability of food systems and a set of key drivers at the global scale. For this we compile a metric of 12 key drivers of food system from a globally-representative set of low, middle, and high-income countries and analyze the relationships between these drivers and a composite index that integrates the four key dimensions of food system sustainability, namely: food security & nutrition, environment, social, and economic dimensions. The two metrics highlight the important data gap that characterizes national systems’ statistics—in particular in relation to transformation, transport, retail and distribution. Spearman correlations and Principal Component Analysis are then used to explore associations between levels of sustainability and drivers. With the exception of one economic driver (trade flows in merchandise and services), the majority of the statistically significant correlations found between food system sustainability and drivers appear to be negative. The fact that most of these negative drivers are closely related to the global demographic transition that is currently affecting the world population highlights the magnitude of the challenges ahead. This analysis is the first one that provides quantitative evidence at the global scale about correlations between the four dimensions of sustainability of our food systems and specific drivers

Frequency, distribution, and risk factors of oral mucosal lesions in a Colombian population: cross-sectional study

Introduction: oral mucosa lesions (OML) are any abnormal variations in appearance, color, texture, swelling, or loss of integrity of the oral mucosa. The worldwide prevalence varies from 4.9 % to 64.7 %. This study aimed to determine the frequency of oral lesions in patients who consult the Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. Methodology: a cross-sectional study was carried out using a structured instrument with sociodemographic, clinical, and habit variables and systematic clinical examination according to the WHO. Statistical analysis was univariate and bivariate, calculating the average and standard deviation for the age variable and absolute and relative frequencies for each sociodemographic and clinical variable. Chi-square tests were done for differences in proportions. Results: 539 patients, the average age was 35.2 years (SD=23.5 years). The frequency of patients with oral lesions was 75.9 % (409). Statistically significant differences were found between the number of lesions and age, use, and type of appliances. Orthodontic appliances were the most common cause of injury (43.1 %). The most frequent lesions were traumatic (68.2 %), followed by vascular (22 %), exfoliative cheilitis (20 %), infectious (17.1 %), and reactive (5.13 %). Conclusions: the prevalence of OML in this population is high, with women mainly affected. The study highlights the importance of making a systematic clinical examination and correlating the findings with the patient's history to establish a diagnosis, prognosis, and appropriate treatment