On May 17th, FINAGRO (the Fund for Agricultural Sector Finance), with the support of Earth Innovation Institute, GGGI and the Sustainable Cattle Ranching Program, held a workshop in San José del Guaviare, Colombia to provide input to the Sustainable Production Transformation Instrument (ITPS, per its acronym in Spanish) pilot of the Amazon Vision program. In reviewing the financial model, workshop participants analyzed how different lines of credit would affect farm productivity and income. These analyses permit the evaluation of potential credit and the possibility of obtaining enough revenue to pay off resulting debt.

Representatives from producer organizations (cattle, cocoa, and more), social leaders, government officials and technical assistants exchanged experiences and adjusted this new financial model to real farm examples. The ITPS pilot will provide 100 small ranchers in high-deforestation regions like Guaviare access to low-interest loans and economic incentives for promoting natural regeneration and forest conservation, and for transitioning to forest-pasture landscapes.

The ITPS will be launched this June at the International Environmental Fair (FIMA), Colombia’s biggest environmental summit.