Prodeco has supported six high-impact productive projects developed with community associations in La Jagua de Ibirico, El Paso and Becerril. Focused on fish farming and cattle rearing, these initiatives combine infrastructure investment, technical and business training, and organizational strengthening to help communities develop the capabilities needed to manage productive activities independently and build sustainable livelihoods beyond mining.
A significant step in this process is the transition toward autonomous management. Five out of six productive projects (San Rafael Farm, La Florida Farm, Portón Rojo Farm and El Rocío Farm) are now independently managed by their community associations, strengthening local ownership and their capacity to sustain these productive activities over time.
The six projects involve 184 association members and support the livelihoods of more than 800 people, including 67 women leaders, while generating more than 770 local jobs during their implementation.
In partnership with the National Learning Service (SENA), Prodeco also continues to strengthen the technical and entrepreneurial capabilities of association members. Through 18 complementary training processes, 162 members have obtained certifications in areas including fish farming, cattle production, aquaculture biosecurity, animal production, occupational health and safety, and business development.
Communities That Are Building Their Own Future: El Rocío: From a fish farming project to a diversified community enterprise
What began as a tilapia farming project has evolved into a diversified productive initiative led by the Asociación de Pescadores Puente Seco (ASOPRAPS) in El Paso, Cesar. Through technical, organizational and business support, association members have strengthened their capabilities and progressively taken on the direct management of the project.
Today, El Rocío operates as an integrated farm combining fish farming with pig rearing, plant nurseries and agricultural production. Since May 2025, the project has been under the association’s independent management, marking an important step in the transition toward community-led productive models.
ASOPRAPS is also expanding its role as a productive actor in the territory. The association has secured a contract worth more than USD $190.500 with the Colombian Adaptation Fund (a public entity focused on implementing integrated risk management and climate change adaptation projects) to operate a productive project and currently manages La Estrella, one of Prodeco’s six High-Impact Productive Projects.
El Rocío illustrates how sustained capacity building, partnerships and collective work can turn a community project into a platform for economic opportunity and greater autonomy beyond mining.