Delgado lives in the municipality of San Antonio del Tequendama, located 50 kilometers from the Colombian capital of Bogotá, where the nursery industry is an important economic activity with over 100 establishments.
San José, 25 August 2022 (IICA) – Julio César Delgado, an ornamental flower grower and one of only a few in Colombia growing Alpine violets, was recognized as a “Leader of Rurality” of the Americas by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).
The “Soul of Rurality” award is an initiative by the agency specialized in agricultural and rural development to pay tribute to men and women who are leaving their mark and making a difference in the rural communities of the Americas, a key region for food and nutrition security and the environmental sustainability of the planet.
Delgado lives in the municipality of San Antonio del Tequendama, located 50 kilometers from the Colombian capital of Bogotá, where the nursery industry is an important economic activity with over 100 establishments.
He is one of just a few flower breeders who produce Alpine violets, an extremely beautiful species native to France. His flowers played a key role during the lockdowns in response to COVID-19 as many people filled their homes with them to help stave off stress.
Moreover, in the face of rising fertilizer and pesticide prices, Delgado has turned to sustainable production—both environmental and financial—with the use of biological resources.
The Leaders of Rurality award recognizes individuals who are playing a critical dual role as guarantors of food and nutrition security and custodians of the planet’s biodiversity, by producing under any condition. The recognition also highlights these individuals’ capacity to serve as role models in the region’s rural areas.
Violets as a way of life
Julio César Delgado is one of just a few ornamental flower growers who produce Alpine violets, a species native to France known for its exquisite beauty.
His flower farm is called Villa Loly and is located in the municipality of San Antonio del Tequendama, a town 50 kilometers from Bogotá that is almost entirely dedicated to the nursery industry. Ornamental plants are grown and sold for their aesthetic features, whether for the flowers, leaves, stems or fruit. They are generally used for decorative purposes, such as in gardens and landscaping, but can also be used as indoor plans and for cut flowers, giving rise to the important floriculture industry.
There are over 100 nurseries in this region that serve the local market. Over the years, production in terms of quantity and quality has grown such that municipal authorities are working on a farm census in order to organize producer associations, obtain phytosanitary certifications and help pave the way for export.
“Our first objective is Ecuador”, says Jairo Varón, who works at City Hall, mentioning the mayor’s interest in making this initiative a reality. Delgado, of course, is one of the first to be called to take part in the enterprise, commented the official.
Over the last few years, the nursery and ornamental plant sector has shown a significant performance, which has helped it to gain new international markets.
In addition to Alpine violets, Julio César Delgado also grows other ornamental plant species, such as primrose, begonia and gloxinia—a very colorful selection for interior and exterior decoration. In total, Villa Loly is home to over 20 varieties in an area spanning 6,400 square meters, with no less than 20,000 plants.
From his farm, Delgado sells not only his own production to wholesalers and local distributors in the country’s largest cities, but also that of third parties when orders exceed production.
The nursery owner explained that the preference for Alpine violet is due to its striking features, particularly its flowers. He added that with proper care, they can last for up to two years.
His nursery wouldn’t be what it is today, however, without the help of his wife, who participates in maintaining the production. Delgado recognizes her commitment and contribution, as well as that of his six full-time employees, who he admires for their work and also cares for the well-being of their families.
Regarding the different production stages and the high prices of inputs, such as fertilizers and pesticides, Delgado comments how he has now turned to new formulations taken from organic farming, in order to achieve a clean and sustainable production. These practices will be definitive when it comes to exporting.
Delgado is a member of the Association of Colombian Nurseries and Ornamental Growers (Colviveros), which was created five years ago to organize ornamental growers who never had a voice before government institutions or phytosanitary authorities.
Colviveros stimulates and promotes the development, competition, and sustainability of nurseries and small ornamental foliage and potted-plant growers across the country. With their slogan—“Growing Well-being”—Colviveros affirms that beyond their ornamental value, plants and flowers have a positive influence on people’s mood and emotional health, as they purify the environment, reduce stress and stimulate concentration and productivity.
Interestingly and somewhat paradoxically, Delgado claims that the pandemic was perhaps one of the best in terms of production and sales. He says that the lockdown and stress led people to decorate their homes with ornamental plants, a better option than cut flowers (Colombia is the world’s second largest flower exporter), which have a short lifespan.
“People came to buy plants for their homes, to care for them, water them, fertilize them, to watch them grow. It created a better quality of life during the lockdown”, he concluded.
More information:
Institutional Communication Division.
comunicacion.institucional@iica.int
