The Self-Sustaining Farm – Rancho Grande is a Local Economic Development project led by the Rotary e‑Club of Colombia Innova, in partnership with the Rancho Grande Rural Association of Small Farmers (ANUC Rancho Grande) and with technical support from SENA – National Learning Service.
The farm will be developed on an 8‑hectare land, where diversified crops and livestock production will be integrated under a circular economy and self‑sufficiency model. This approach will make it possible to leverage local resources, reduce operating costs, transform waste into productive inputs, and move toward a sustainable, efficient, and community‑driven agricultural system.
An Estimated duration of 5 years
Aimed at 20 Peasant Families
In Luruaco, Atlantico
100 Direct beneficiaries
Expansion to 102 Families
And More than 1,000 residents of the region
With this project, we seek to comprehensively address the needs of the community, promoting sustainable development and improving their quality of life through agricultural and livestock activities that will provide the following benefits:
Strengthened food security
Ensuring continuous access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food for a healthy life.
Creating stable sources of income
Through the sale of agricultural and livestock surpluses in local markets.
Lower production costs
Through the use of waste materials, the production of organic fertilizers, and the implementation of circular‑economy practices.
Continuous technical education
In agroecology, food processing, marketing, cooperativism, and business management.
Community empowerment
Especially women and youth, through active participation in decision‑making and in the future farmers’ cooperative.
Organizational capacity building
Of ANUC Rancho Grande and the beneficiary families, promoting leadership, shared responsibility, and collaborative work.
Environmental improvement
Thanks to agroecological practices, soil conservation, efficient water use, and increased productive biodiversity.
Building social cohesion
Fostering cooperation, trust, and coordination with public and private institutions.
Replicable and sustainable model
Which can be adopted by other rural communities and Rotary clubs interested in Community Economic Development projects.
PLAN FOR SUSTAINABILITY
Production diversification activities for
self-sufficiency
Crops
Vegetables, food staples, aromatic and medicinal plants, forage grasses, living fences of fruit trees
Animal husbandry
-
Laying hens for the production of free‑range eggs
-
Broiler chickens for meat production
-
Pigs and African sheep (up to the rearing stage) for sale
Utilizing surplus production to create extra income
-
Sale of fresh and processed products derived from agricultural and livestock production
-
Processing of agricultural products to produce value‑added sub-products (such as flours, preserves, pulps, dehydrated goods, etc.)
Reduction of operational costs through the efficient use of resources and processes to maximize efficiency and minimize waste
-
Implementation of recycling and composting practices
-
Production of forage for animal feed
-
Efficient irrigation systems and rainwater harvesting
Ongoing comprehensive education and capacity‑building for farmers
-
Productive and agricultural strengthening
-
Circular economy and environmental sustainability
-
Rural marketing and entrepreneurship
-
Community organization and leadership
Establishment of a farmers’ cooperative
-
Collective marketing of products
-
Generation of sustainable income and promotion of community savings
-
Reinvestment in infrastructure, equipment, and new productive lines
-
Strengthening of governance and the community’s economic autonomy