The Vaupés farms

Jul 5, 2024
3 min read

The chagra is a traditional agricultural production system or polyculture practiced by the indigenous communities of the department of Vaupés. This adapts to the environment, has a high level of production and is integrated into indigenous social and cultural traditions. According to the agronomist engineers Giraldo and Yunda, in the farm "the indigenous people express their worldview acquired through processes permanent observation, interaction and dialogue with nature, through which He appropriates it and learns from it, understanding the plot of life. When copying or replicating the nature in its biodiversity, arrangement and dynamics, the indigenous people make their agriculture a true sustainable production system» (Giraldo Viatela, Jesús Hernán and Myriam Constanza Yunda Romero, 2000).

The Vaupés farms attract the interest of the scientific community, because they are rich in the sense that they are largely sustainable for human communities, while representing environmental protection. Although similar experiences have taken off in the world such as permaculture, which is based precisely on the observation and rescue of ancestral indigenous traditions from all continents, in the chagra as a living tradition we find an excellent example to know, promote and protect.

While in the same region of Vaupés there is the example of colonists' agriculture, although in a minority way, it allows us to compare the effectiveness and level of interaction with nature. Settler agriculture is almost always harmful to the environment, it uses herbicides that pollute, carries out indiscriminate deforestation, contaminates water sources and destroys land. Chagra agriculture, on the other hand, is based on great respect for Mother Jungle, which is considered the provider and protector of the community.

Types of farms

Chagra de monte bravo: The indigenous people of Vaupés call the undisturbed forested areas Monte Bravo. The establishment of a farm in said territory is initially done by the men of the community, who usually paint their faces as a way of protection against evil spirits so that they are allowed to work. This is a task carried out in the month of December before the rains begin. A tough job, because it is the conquest of a new territory where the most useful trees are left. The land is much richer and therefore the production is richer.
Chagra de stubble: The indigenous people call secondary forests stubble. These are those forests that have been generated on territories that have been intervened by human hands.

Both types have the following characteristics:

The chagras are not located in continuous territories (they are not plantations), but are dispersed in the forest, as a continuation of it.
The farm is active for a year while it produces and then it is "abandoned", which would be better to say "returned to the Mother Jungle" so that it regenerates and recovers.
The inclination of the soil is vital for the location of the farm, in such a way that it facilitates irrigation.
The size depends on the number of members of the family or community and the number of men who can create it.
The woman is the one who sows, while the man is the one who harvests, fishes and hunts.
The crops are strictly organic and in which the indigenous people use what nature itself provides for pest control, cycles and other things. No foreign elements such as chemicals are used.
Production goes first for family and community consumption and what is left is shared with other communities in the central market. There is no objective of financial profits.

Bibliographic notes

Giraldo Viatela, Jesús Hernán and Myriam Constanza Yunda Romero, 2000. The indigenous chagra and biodiversity: sustainable production system of the indigenous communities of Vaupés (Colombia). Rural Development Notebooks (44), 2000.
Gaia Amazon. The chagra: source of food, integral system and foundation of life. Link rescued on March 29, 2020 from https://www.gaiaamazonas.org

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1vq0HCpqJg