In more than 80 municipalities, the identification of APPAs is underway

La Guajira, Antioquia, Cundinamarca, and Santander among the departments where the entity is working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Bogotá D. C., (@UPRAColombia, @claudialili76). In the second semester of 2023, UPRA began the identification of Areas of Protection for Food Production (APPA) in nine municipalities of La Guajira, a process that is nearing completion with the declaration by the Ministry of Agriculture. One year later, it has opened more than five fronts of work in over 80 municipalities across the country, where different working groups are identifying these areas with the aim of ensuring food security and protecting rural land. 

Dora Inés Rey Martínez, Technical Director of Social Property Planning and Rural Land Market at UPRA, stated, "During the process of identifying APPAs, we have had the opportunity to explain to the various technical teams of the municipalities and the community what APPAs are, the importance of declaring these areas as determinants of higher hierarchy in territorial planning, the impact it will have on the territory in terms of rural development, and the protection of these lands for food security and the human right to food." 

Nine municipalities in La Guajira 

As mentioned, in La Guajira, the municipalities where APPAs have already been identified are Barrancas, Distracción, El Molino, Fonseca, Hatonuevo, La Jagua del Pilar, San Juan del Cesar, Urumita, and Villanueva. Only the administrative act by the Ministry of Agriculture declaring the APPAs is pending. 

First approach with municipalities and community in Tolima 

Líbano, Fresno, Falan, Villahermosa, Palocabildo, Herveo, Casabianca, and Murillo were the municipalities where UPRA collaborators were present to explain the benefits and the process of identifying APPAs. 

In each of these territories, the community highlighted the work of protecting the soil and promoting the development of the agricultural sector. 

Sabana Centro (Cundinamarca) 

In the central region of the country, specifically in the municipalities of Sabana Centro, UPRA began identifying APPAs at the end of 2023, holding technical meetings with the municipalities of Cajicá, Chía, Cogua, Cota, Gachancipá, Nemocón, Sopó, Tabio, and others. 

After several meetings, UPRA is working hand in hand with local authorities to collect information and carry out the technical process. 

23 municipalities prioritized in Antioquia 

In the coming weeks, UPRA will be in the department of Antioquia, specifically in 23 municipalities, starting the task of identifying APPAs and presenting the exercise for the first time to municipalities and the community. 

Among the municipalities the entity will visit are: Amagá, Andes, Angelópolis, Betania, Betulia, Caramanta, Ciudad Bolívar, Concordia, Fredonia, Hispania, Jardín, Jericó, La Pintada, Montebello, Pueblorrico, Salgar, and others. 

Santander, Córdoba, and Cauca 

According to UPRA's planning for the identification of APPAs, 21 municipalities are prioritized in Córdoba, and two municipalities in Santander to start identifying these areas. 

​​In Cauca, certain rural areas will also be prioritized to promote the agricultural sector.