With 11 Virtual Peasant Markets led by the Rural Development Agency, Mayors, The National Army and its program Fe en Colombia, it was possible to reactivate the economy of more than 240 associations in the region, taking into account the difficult economic situation caused by the health crisis due to COVID-19 pandemic.
As a boost to the economy of the peasants of the Department of Tolima, men of the National Army and its program Fe in Colombia in coordination with state institutions, carry out the virtual peasant markets. This process becomes especially important given that it supports the commercialization of the products of the inhabitants of the municipalities included in the development programs with a Territorial approach (PDET in Spanish), which have been severely damaged by armed conflict and poverty. The municipalities that have benefited from this initiative are: Ibagué on two occasions, San Luis, Planadas, Rovira, Falan, Icononzo, Chaparral, Mariquita, Murillo and Rioblanco.
Mrs. Yadith Romero Reinoso, participant of the event in the municipality of Chaparral and representative of Asogratol, added: “For us this is a fairly favorable activity because we sell arracacha, coffee, coriander and pumpkin. We grow them within the region. Selling them here helps us recover a little in the financial part, especially in this time of pandemic. I thank the mayor's office and the National Army for thinking about us, the peasants of the region.”
Products and prices information is distributed through social networks, with a WhatsApp line to receive orders a week in advance; and the soldiers of the Comprehensive Action and Development Support Battalion 5 and the team of the program Fe en Colombia, carry out the organization and distribution of food baskets, for the subsequent distribution.
Mr. Carlos Ernesto Santana, director of the Technical Unit of Territorial Tolima of the Rural Development Agency, commented: "this is an experience that helps to revitalize the economy of the various municipalities, producers to sell products that are in their farms and have not been able to market. You visualize their production to achieve commercial alliances. We want the peasant markets and we want to repeat the same or more successful activities, and we hope to have the support of the National Army and Fe in Colombia, which are strategic allies for us."
For his part, Major César Augusto Cabrejo, commander of the Comprehensive Action and Development Support Battalion No.5, said: "the support we give to the peasants is something that comes from the heart of our soldiers. The National Army will always be on the side of the people who work in the field and bring food to our homes to improve their quality of life, especially in these difficult times due to COVID-19. We hope that in the next occasion there will be more institutions that, through unified operation, can unite efforts for contributing to the peasants”.
Source: press-Comprehensive Action and Development Command-CAAID
