With good results for panela producers from Albania and San José del Fragua – Caquetá, the third phase of the Nacional Seed Plan – sugarcane comes to an end

Florencia, Caquetá. May 5, 2023. Higher yields in the amount of sugarcane and panela per hectare, earlier production cycle, and better panela quality with the CC93-7711 sugarcane variety were, among others, the comments of the producers, members of the Seed Committee of the small suburban district (vereda) Alta Castañal in the municipality of Albania and San José del Fragua – Caquetá, belonging to Asociación de Productores de Panela – ASOPANELA, at the end of the third phase of the National Seed Plan (Plan Nacional de Semillas). The work was led by the research group of the Office Headquarters in Florencia of Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria – AGROSAVIA.

This recently completed phase of the project sought to recover, conserve and improve the use of quality seed, allowing the availability of plant material in quality and quantity and the self-sufficiency of the seed committee's producers. Additionally, this work strengthened the capacities of organizations associated with the project in subjects related to technical, financial, organizational, and legal aspects for producing quality seed.

One of the essential aspects to highlight was the unfavorable omen that producers mentioned with the development of this plot, especially when they were given the sugarcane seedlings –an innovation for farmers– produced from individual buds to establish the plot. This occurred because the seedlings were a bit battered or damaged after 10 days of travel and a journey of more than 600 kilometers from the Cimpa headquarters of AGROSAVIA in the Suárez river valley in Santander until reaching the small suburban district of Alta Castañal in the Municipality of Albania - Caquetá. However, as the days passed, producers could observe the plants' excellent development, which adapted quickly, obtaining lush foliage and excellent progress. This translated later into higher yields and productivity for sugarcane cultivation. These innovative expressions will contribute to improving the living conditions of small panela producers in the region. Fernando Bermúdez, from the farm Los Pomos in the municipality of Albania, Caquetá said, "It tillers quickly, and the stems are thick and heavy, providing a greater abundance of guarapo and, therefore, better panela yield."

Likewise, Mr. Jairo Burbano, owner of the plot La Hermosa in the municipality of Albania, mentioned, "In 1,000 square meters planted in sugarcane of this variety, we obtained 15 packages of panela of 60 kilos each, which, by calculating in one hectare, we would be approaching nine tons, a much higher production than the regional variety. Additionally, it behaves very well because it has natural defoliation. As we plant it at a distance of 60 centimeters between plants and 1.20 meters between rows, the sugarcane closes quickly, helping us to control weeds. In the same way, it has shown tolerance to the attack of pests and diseases."

One of the priorities of AGROSAVIA and the national panela association FEDEPANELA is to promote and consolidate the productivity of the panela sector in a sustainable way. In this sense, it is necessary to strengthen strategic alliances to continue developing, promoting, and maintaining projects and programs that guarantee the competitiveness of the panela subsector to improve the quality of life of producers and rural residents through income derived from this activity.