„Assessment of the sustainability of agricultural production at farm level in Tunja, Colombia: Application and expansion of the indicator system RISE”

in context of the project
“Reducing human health and environmental risks from pesticide use – Integrating decision –making and spatial assessment models”

Dr. Claudia Binder / Martin Seitlinger, cand. M. Sc.
Natural and Social Science Interface
Swiss  Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich

Jaime Diaz, M. Sc.
School of Sciences and Engineering
UNIBOYACA/Colombia

 

The Institute for Natural and Social Sciences (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich) ETH-UNS is in close collaboration with the School of Sciences and Engineering UNIBOYACA in Tunja, Colombia. The current project “Reducing human health and environmental risks from pesticide use – Integrating decision –making and spatial assessment models” is carried out and financed by both UNIBOYACA and the ETH-UNS.

1. Background

Smallholders in developing countries depend for survival on their farmyard, manpower, family and the quality of their soil. Within the scope of scientific investigation frequently just one aspect is analyzed. However the interplay of the different factors and their interactions are crucial for the welfare of farmers.  Analyzing the situation of smallholders the question is which aspects have to be taken into account so an assessment from the sustainability point of view (economic, ecological and social dimensions) is warranted.

2.  Goal of the Project

In the project “Assessment of the sustainability of agricultural production at farm level in Tunja, Colombia: Application and expansion of the indicator system RISE” we want to analyze 15 farms. Thereby a system of indicators (RISE) (Studer, 2005; OECD, 2000) will be adapted, applied and augmented.

Specifically within this project we will answer the following questions:

• Which are the problems applying RISE (Response Inducing Sustainability Evaluation), which are the benefits?
• Which indicators are missing?
• How can the results be used for conclusions on a regional level?
• Which part plays the uncertainty and data collection?
• How can interactions between the indicators be analyzed (are there functional coherences)?

4. Study Area

The selected study area Vereda la Hoya is located in the rural part of Tunja, Colombia, in the eastern chain of the Andes at an altitude of 2,800 meters above sea level. It has an area of 840 ha and a population of about 747 inhabitants. The main income source is farming. Farmers cultivate munifundios (average size 6.6 ha) (Buitrago and Alvarado, 2000).
The land use pattern and the main agricultural products grown in La Hoya are shown in table 1. Potatoes and vetch are the main crops produced followed by corn and horse bean. Usually the land is cultivated in cycles such as the first months of the year for potato followed by vetch.

5. Method

The Response-Inducing Sustainability Evaluation is a computer-based tool that allows assessing the sustainability of agricultural production and trends hereof at farm level. The holistic sustainability assessment follows a system approach and covers ecological, economic and social dimensions (Studer, 2005). The analysis is based on an interview for data collection, computer aided calculation of the indicators and a feedback discussion of the results with the farm manager, which leads to first ideas for potential means regarding an adequate response for improvement of the current situation. Due to its database function RISE can be used not only for individual farm analysis but also to evaluate the sustainability of small, middle and big farms comparatively.

6. Expected results and entities will benefit from the project

As a result of this Master’s thesis (Diplomarbeit) the RISE-indicator-system will be fitted to this specific region in order to evaluate diffrencies between small, middle and big farms and their regional consequences. As an additional outcome we expect to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the agricultural production in rural Tunja by implementing RISE.  The system of indicators (RISE) should be adapted, applied and augmented.

Furthermore, an intensified co-operation between the „School of Sciences and Engineering, UNIBOYACA/Colombia” and the Natural and Social Science Interface, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich ETH-UNS is expected.

7. Involved institutions and persons

Jaime Diaz, M.Sc., Professor
jaimediaz@uniboyaca.edu.co
Facultad de Ciencias e Ingenieria, UNIBOYACA
P.O. Box 652, Tunja, Colombia

Prof. Dr. Claudia R. Binder, Research Project Leader and Lecturer
cbinder@geo.unizh.ch
Social and Industrial Ecology
Department of Geography
University of Zurich

Martin Seitlinger, diploma Thesis student at ETH-UNS
martinse@student.ethz.ch
Aubodenstrasse 59
8472 Ohringen, Switzerland