The realization of this peasant fair in the Bajo Cauca Antioqueño generated six million pesos.
The Mayor of El Bagre at the head of the Secretary of Agriculture, Mines and Environment, with the support of the Land Restitution Unit, the National Army and its program Fe en Colombia (Faith in Colombia), held a peasant market seeking to open a space of commercial opportunities for small producers and thus contribute to the restoration of the agricultural and livestock economy of the region.
From the municipalities of Brojolá, Caño Claro, Luis Cano, Pandero, Puerto López, La Bonga, Villa Chica and El Tigre, 125 peasants arrived in the urban area of the municipality to promote fresh products such as rice, avocado, ají, ahuyama, borojó, cachama, cacao, coconut, guanábana, banana, sapote, yam and cassava. Traditional foods of the region were also on sale, such as chicken rice, cassava bun, cheese mote, whey and kekis.
Thanks to the operation of the men of the Joint Task Force Aquiles with his Special Energy Battalion and Road No. 5 and the support of the Comprehensive Action and Development Support Battalion No. 7, it was possible to unload the fresh food that came of the hamlets of the municipality by land and river transport to the main square of the Mayor's office.
The realization of this peasant market, allowed to publicize innovative products made by entrepreneurs women such as the ecological soap developed by the company Pachamama; the cacao custard by Chocofé; the honey candies by Campo Dulce; the chocolate containing 100% of cacao by Asobosques; and plants holders made by the company Nudos, Macramé and Jewelry.
According to data collected by the Secretary of Agriculture, Mines and Environment, this market generated income of more than USD $19,000 to families in 16 rural communities in the municipality of El Bagre, which are members of different rural associations.
The market sought to enhance the entrepreneurial resources of peasant associations. That is why it had the participation of Cooperativa y Ahorro y Crédito Microempresas de Colombia, which was present providing credits, financial education and professional accompaniment to farmers, for the financing of their small productive units.
The National Army and its program Fe en Colombia will continue supporting these areas of regional economic development that strengthen the link between the countryside and the city, facilitating the connection of agricultural producers organizations with local buyers without the need for intermediaries.
Source: press-Comprehensive Action and Development Support Command-CAAID
