Héctor Armando Garzón Cárdenas

Papa Potato

A vital staple

Tubers are vital components of Colombian cuisine, with potato particularly popular. Over 50 different varieties of potato are farmed in the country and these crops supply every sector of society with low-cost, nutritious, and tasty food. They are particularly important to farmers and consumers in the colder climates of Colombia where they are grown by both smallholder farmers and also as part of a major commercial potato growing industry that is one of the largest in South America.

Héctor Armando Garzón Cárdenas is one of these major Colombian commercial potato growers, growing a family tradition that stretches back to his grandparents.

Growing sustainability

Héctor started farming on small plots of land inherited from his father and grandparents. From these humble, family-led beginnings he steadily expanded his farm by initially leasing more land on which he could plant more crops and nurture a successful business.

By expanding his farmland, Héctor has been able to not just ensure a more profitable business, but a more sustainable one too. With more fields, Héctor has been able to begin rotating crops, allowing the vital soil to recover its nutrients, supporting local ecosystems, and minimising the risk of disease. Alongside this traditional agricultural good practice, Héctor also uses brush cutters to incorporate crop residues into the soil. This further protects soil health by absorbing raindrop impact and protecting against wind erosion, while the increased organic matter in the soil improves its nutrient content.

Working together to change the game

We have been working with Héctor for eight years now, building a relationship that has allowed us to develop a comprehensive and wide-ranging inputs package alongside providing technical assistance where necessary. This package includes the use of UPL products from the insecticides, fungicides and biosolutions portfolio such as: Doubletake, Evito-T, Glory, Novofix, Polythion, Biozyme, Raizal, Poliquel Magnesio, Poliquel Calcio, Foltron, and Silwet among others. We’re proud that Héctor is reaping the benefits of this package of inputs with stronger, more resilient, and higher quality crops that also produce increased yields.

A responsibility

When asked what he enjoys most about his calling as a farmer, Héctor points to the responsibility farming brings – the responsibility to ensure food security, to feed the cities, and drive sustainability. We share awareness of this responsibility andwe’re proud to be reimagining sustainability alongside farmers like Héctor.