AGROSAVIA strengthens sustainable production and Arhuaca culture in Nabusímake, the land where the sun is born

Valledupar, Cesar. March 5, 2025. In a strong-minded commitment to sustainable development and the strengthening of Indigenous communities, Corporación colombiana de investigación agropecuaria, AGROSAVIA, through the Motilonia Research Center, carried out a series of participatory workshops with the Arhuaco People in Nabusímake, a territory known as the land where the sun is born. These activities were led by researcher Luis Fernando Gómez within the framework of the project "Linking technologies with a food security and organic farming approach in ancestral villages of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, through the integration of rural territorial actors for innovation."

Similarly, Researcher Clara Viviana Rúa supported the development of these spaces and led an interactive workshop with women artisans within the wool quality evaluation framework associated with the project "Animal Germplasm Bank for Sheep" (BGO, for its Spanish acronym)," led by the Obonuco Research Center. These initiatives were supported by Ethnic Research Assistant Ekile Miguel Torres, who facilitated the intercultural dialogue between the community and the researchers, framed in the strategic vision of AGROSAVIA, which is aligned with the public policy of the national government headed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Science and Technology, which aims to contribute to the conservation of the traditional agri-food systems of this ancestral people hand in hand with science.

 

Participatory land planning and agricultural sustainability

The first workshop focused on participatory land planning, with teachers and directors of the Indigenous Center for Diversified Education (CIED, for its Spanish acronym), parents, indigenous producers, and representatives of the Peñumuke School. During the day, an exploration of the territory was carried out, the main production systems were identified, and strategic areas were visited to establish demonstration plots with fodder for animal feed.

According to Researcher Luis Fernando Gómez, "Through this participatory exercise using the SWOT methodology and social cartography, the importance of managing water resources for livestock and agriculture uses was identified. Likewise, the need to study the soil and its characteristics in-depth to understand its current state and propose improvements was highlighted. To do this, soil samples were taken to be analyzed in AGROSAVIA's laboratories, with the endorsement of the local indigenous authorities. These studies will allow the design of strategies adapted to the socio-ecological conditions of the territory, optimizing crop productivity and guaranteeing the natural balance and livelihoods of the community."

Rescue and valuation of the Arhuaca culture: wool quality and the art of weaving

The second workshop, of a dynamic and participatory nature, focused on the quality of wool, a resource of profound cultural significance for the Arhuaca woman, a symbol of her tradition and worldview. This workshop allowed analyzing the wool processing process from its extraction to the production of mochila bags, including fiber washing, spinning, "torchado" [braiding], and weaving the "chipire," the fundamental basis of Arhuacas mochila bags. In addition, the wool quality from the AGROSAVIA Sheep Germplasm Bank (BGO, for its Spanish acronym) was evaluated interactively, rescuing and valuing the ancestral knowledge transmitted from generation to generation.

Researcher Clara Viviana Rúa emphasized that "as part of AGROSAVIA's commitment to strengthening the productive activities of Indigenous women, we delivered a one-kilogram sample of wool from Creole sheep breeds Blanca and Mora, preserved at the Obonuco Research Center in Pasto (Nariño), with the purpose of evaluating its quality from an approach that combines traditional knowledge with technical-scientific knowledge."

Rúa emphasized that this is not the first collaboration with the Arhuaco People in Nabusímake. "In 2024, we achieved a first approach with ASOCIT, an organization of Arhuaco authorities, together with the leader Yesid Seykundivey and the professional Terun Mestre. On that occasion, we identified that one of the key lines of work with AGROSAVIA is the extensive grazing of wool sheep in conservation areas, such as the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Natural Park. This activity requires strengthening with a sustainable livestock approach, guaranteeing the preservation of the ecosystem and promoting artisanal production, which not only generates income for Arhuaca women but is also an essential pillar in preserving their cultural identity."

 

AGROSAVIA's commitment to ancestral peoples

For the research team at the Motilonia Research Center, accessing these territories, characterized by their remoteness and difficult access, represents a challenge that they have taken on as part of AGROSAVIA's commitment to the democratization of science.

The actions developed in Nabusímake are part of a broader strategy that AGROSAVIA has been implementing in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, where the dialogue of knowledge between science and tradition has allowed the construction of sustainable agricultural solutions adapted to the needs of Indigenous peoples.

The joint work with the Arhuaco People reaffirms AGROSAVIA's commitment to strengthening capacities and improving the quality of life of producers in the region. Through participatory methodologies and respect for ancestral knowledge, the Corporation continues to demonstrate that science and tradition can converge to build a more prosperous and sustainable future for the country's indigenous communities.