AGROSAVIA, together with the Government of Tolima, is driving the future of plantain production in the department through a comprehensive quality seed system

• The initiative benefits seven associations of Musaceae-producing farmers from the municipalities of Líbano, Fresno, Palocabildo, Villahermosa, Casabianca, Santa Isabel, and Herveo.
• In addition, it guarantees the supply of quality genetic material to meet demand in the department of Tolima.
• Additionally, it strengthens the productive fabric through comprehensive training, enabling producers to develop the autonomy needed to diagnose, innovate, and solve the challenges in their environment, while leading their own development pathway.

 

Ibagué, August 19, 2026. In the heart of the Central Cordillera, at an elevation of 1,565 meters above sea level and surrounded by the canyons of the Lagunilla and Recio rivers, the municipality of Líbano, “known for its coffee-growing and literary tradition,” became the epicenter of a silent revolution for the agricultural sector of Tolima. Corporación colombiana de investigación agropecuaria — AGROSAVIA — arrived in this beautiful setting through its Nataima Research Group and the Ministry of Agriculture, with a clear objective: to transform plantain production by strengthening farmers’ technical capacities, with financial support from the Government of Tolima.

The project, “Strengthening the Hartón and Dominico Hartón Clone Plantain Production System,” not only delivers knowledge but also brings innovation into practical application in the field. On this occasion, the “Frutos de mi Tierra” and “Semilla de Paz” associations were the first to receive training and materials to establish a quality plantain seed production nucleus, a key technology within an integrated model that includes a mother garden, an intensive multiplication garden, multiplication tunnels, and a nursery. This system allows seed production with plant health, uniformity, and vigor attributes that, until now, have been inaccessible to small-scale producers in the region.

But the initiative goes further. AGROSAVIA has identified that Tolima lacks nurseries registered with ICA for the production and commercialization of plantain seed, which limits access to quality seed and exposes the production system to phytosanitary risks. In response to this reality, the project seeks not only to increase plantain production by 20% through the use of certified seed, but also to close the technical and social gap currently affecting 48 associations in the department.

AGROSAVIA’s work focuses on four fundamental pillars: establishing protocols for the mass production of quality seed, developing agro-industrial processing alternatives based on a circular economy, creating spaces for technology transfer, and, above all, strengthening producers’ capacities so that they can become autonomous managers of their own development.

In a country where plantain occupies more than 304,000 hectares and is a pillar of food security, AGROSAVIA’s initiative in northern Tolima represents a decisive step toward moving from 0% locally produced quality seed to a sustainable, competitive, and resilient system. It is not merely about delivering technology; it is about sowing knowledge, cultivating capacities, and multiplying opportunities in each of the seven beneficiary municipalities: Líbano, Fresno, Palocabildo, Villahermosa, Casabianca, Santa Isabel, and Herveo.

Through this partnership, AGROSAVIA reaffirms its commitment to Colombia’s agricultural sector, showing that technological innovation, when paired with practical training and close support, is key to transforming the reality of those who cultivate the land and feed the country.