Blog More milk, more opportunities: the road opened by PDET Routes for sustainable livestock farming in Caquetá

For four years, the Alliance Bioversity & CIAT led the implementation of the Technological Innovation component of the PDET Routes project. In the case of Caquetá, this effort was focused on strengthening the dairy production chain through the implementation of six technological packages, spaces for dialogue, collaboration with key stakeholders in the sector, training and technical sessions, and gender workshops. The program provided producers with tools to increase milk production and quality while promoting sustainable practices in livestock farming.

In the initial phase of the process, a participatory exercise was carried out in which each family of producers imagined and shaped the "Dream Farm", visualizing a productive system with greater capacity and more productive.

Jhon Morales, producer of the 'Nápoles' farm in Puerto Rico, commented on how interesting this exercise was: "I have always dreamed of a better farm for my cattle, but I had never sat down to think about it like this. We drew well-organized paddocks, with pastures that can withstand the summer, we put trees for shade and water troughs in all the paddocks. And with my family we realized that with a few changes the farm could be more productive and help the environment."

Beyond an exercise in imagination, this step served as the basis for strategic planning, documented in the "Farm Planning Folder". This resource structured personalized work plans and included information on the families participating in the PDET Routes project and their farms, such as the delimitation of the areas of implementation of sustainable livestock technologies and descriptive profiles of the producers, consolidating a solid Geodatabase for project monitoring.

With this information in hand, the Alliance researchers designed concrete strategies for each producer, evaluating costs, materials, and labor requirements to transform their aspirations into tangible and sustainable improvements over time, even after the conclusion of the PDET Routes Program.

For this purpose, seven ''demonstration'' farms were selected in strategic locations so that the 369 project beneficiaries could visit them and observe the results first-hand. The six technological packages of the program were implemented on these farms, and periodic activities were organized, such as the First Dairy Value Chain Seminar, which brought together nearly 220 key stakeholders from the sector at the Villamaría farm, located in El Paujil.

In addition to the implementation of improved forages, forage banks, live fences with trees, and water harvesting systems, the program also strengthened capacity building in key issues, such as the critical control points defined by the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA), with a view toward certification in Good Livestock Practices and Good Milking Practices.

This model not only facilitated the adoption of new practices, but also overturned initial skepticism, demonstrating that research did not remain in the laboratory, but reached the field. The experience of the farmers who participated in the program reflects the benefits of this knowledge transfer, translated into productive and environmental improvements.

For many women, these workshops marked a turning point in their role within the sector, enabling them to move from being seen—and seeing themselves—as collaborators on their farms to recognizing themselves as ranchers and informed decision-makers not only within the dairy chain, but also within their families.

To ensure their participation, the activity schedules were adapted to align with their daily responsibilities. Additionally, simultaneous activities were organized for children, allowing mothers to attend without concern. These measures led to female participation far exceeding initial expectations.

Such inclusive processes are crucial for advancing peacebuilding and sustainable development in territories affected by violence, offering communities viable, productive, and safe alternatives.

The closing of this project does not mark an end, but rather a new starting point for the farmers, who now possess the tools and knowledge to continue improving the productivity and sustainability of their farms. The demonstration farms will remain community learning spaces, encouraging the adoption of innovative practices. Capacity building in Good Agricultural Practices and Good Milking Practices opens up new opportunities for quality certification of their products. Moreover, the recognition of women’s roles has been a key step toward their empowerment and leadership within the production chain.