The document discusses the cultivation of African palm in the village of Maria La Baja, Colombia. It describes how palm cultivation began as a necessity for farmers during an agricultural crisis in the 1990s, but has since become an opportunity through a government program partnering farmers with palm oil companies. However, the program benefits companies more through long-term contracts and high production costs imposed on farmers. While palm cultivation has provided stable work, farmers' real incomes are decreasing over time under this system.

1. THE AFRICAN PALM IN MARIA LA BAJA. Opportunity or necessity?

2. THE AFRICAN PALM IN MARIA LA BAJA. Opportunity or necessity? WhereisM.laBaja? Maria La Bajais a villagesituatedin Bolivar Dipartment, in the North landofColombia, at about 70 km from Cartagena de Indias. Over 90% of people are afro-descendant. Foritsgeophysicalcharacteristics M. La Bajais a goodplacewheretocultivate a lotofvegetables.

3. THE AFRICAN PALM IN MARIA LA BAJA. Opportunity or necessity? Animosa and the Africanpalmchallangein Maria La Baja. Animosa isnearto Maria La Bajawith the sports project coordinatedby the Consolata’s fathers. During last years the community hasfaced the farmingof the africanpalmhopingtobuilt a better future. Since 2007, asconsequenceofthissocio-economicchallange, the Consolata’s missionarieshasbeenorganized a forum aboutthistopic. Due the phenomenonsproducedby the globalizationprocess, the membersof Animosa havedecidedtoestimulatereflexions and debates on thistheme in Italy too.

4. THE AFRICAN PALM IN MARIA LA BAJA. opportunity or necessity?

5. THE AFRICAN PALM IN MARIA LA BAJA. opportunity or necessity? How the palmcame in M. La Baja. In 1968, the weakagriarianreformdidn’t change the structureoflandownership.The farmersobtainedonly a little part from the big landowners. Forthisreason the littlefarmersstartedtocultivatericestimulatedby the governement’s credit.

6. THE AFRICAN PALM IN MARIA LA BAJA. opportunity or necessity? The ruralcrisisof the 90’s. At the beginningof 90’s a strong crisisstruck the ruralsector in M. La Bajafor: - the unsustainablemono-intesingfarming; - the disorganizationoffarmer’s associationswithoutanygovernment help; - the commercial opening ofcolombian market. In manycases the only chance for the farmerswasto sell the landstopaytheirdebts and founding a better life movingto the city.

7. THE AFRICAN PALM IN MARIA LA BAJA. opportunity or necessity? “The Social and ProductiveAlliancefor the CultivationofAfricanpalm in Maria la Baja.” Thisis a governmentalplanaccordingwith the “Hacienda Las Flores” ent. gr. and the localfarmersassociation. For the farmersthisplanwas the only chance to continue the ruralactivity on theirownlandsconvertingtheircultivationfor the Africanpalm.

8. THE AFRICAN PALM IN MARIA LA BAJA. opportunity or necessity? This agreement binds the farmersto stay in this market foranaverageof 20-25 yearswith “Hacienda Las Flores”. Moreover the company fixed the price of the fruitusedto produce biodiesel and givesthem the creditfor the sowing. So the farmershavepermanentincomesbut the bigger part of the production costs (aspesticides, machinary and technicalassistance) are dumped on theirrevenues.

9. THE AFRICAN PALM IN MARIA LA BAJA. opportunity or necessity? 28% offruitfullands in Maria la Baja are usedtocultivate the Africanpalm. (Source, “Agencia presidencial para la Acción social y la cooperación internacional”. 2009, September.) Colombia is the first productor of oil palm in America, fifth in the world (Source, www.fedepalma.org)

10. THE AFRICAN PALM IN MARIA LA BAJA. opportunity or necessity? Last considerations. Considering the unemploymentbefore the start of the “Allianceproductiveprogram”, the farmershavefound a stableactivity in the palmcultivation. Howeverit’s clear the production system is more favorablefor the monopolyof the company stoodbygovernmentpolicies. In the long period, the farmersrealrevenuetrendsto reduce itbecause the essentialgoods are imported. There are manyfieldsnotcultivatedfor the primarygoods .

13. THE AFRICAN PALM IN MARIA LA BAJA. opportunity or necessity? Thanksto: Father Giuseppe “Pepe” Svanera, Consolata’s missionerin M. la Baja. Membersoforganizingcommitteof the second “Foro de Palma y Caña en Maria la Baja”. Andrés Orlando GómezLópez, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotà.