Learn more about the legumes of our country

In Colombian gastronomy it is common to find a dish composed of legumes such as lentils, beans, chickpeas, among others. Even the most representative dishes such as the Bandeja Paisa, the Santander mute, the tamales, among others, feature some legumes. Know some facts about these crops:

Among the crops of the first semester of 2019, we find in sixth place the category of vegetables, grains, and legumes with a total planted area of 146,318.
* Data from the technical bulletin of the national agricultural survey ENA

Among the legumes grown in our country, peas and beans stand out and play an important role in crops.
Beans and peas are the most widely planted legumes in the country, obtaining 41.6% and 13.15% of the total cultivated hectares respectively, according to the National Agricultural Survey (2020)
In legume crops, the highest percentage of the harvest is dedicated to the sale of the product, for example, in 2019 the percentage destined for the sale of green beans was 96.1% while its own consumption was 3.9%, thus the same 98.3 of the peas was for business and 1.7% for self-consumption.
Legumes are a product of easy access, which, in certain regions and family baskets, usually replace meats and dairy products due to economic reasons. However, being rich in nutrients and protein, these manage to be a good complement to Colombian dishes.
With the current situation of the planet, the soils and topography of some regions do not allow a great growth of legume crops, however, currently there are alternatives such as irrigation systems, technology applied to irrigation techniques and even legumes that adapt to soils that are dry.
Precisely in this 2021 we are living, the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables (AIFV) designated by the General Assembly of the United Nations, as a tribute to its importance and relevance in the field and in Colombian homes.

To learn more about this crop, we invite you to visit the Agroexpo fair, an allied event of this Econexia agro-industry ecosystem, which will take place from July 15th to 25th, 2021 on-site in Corferias, with all the protocols of biosecurity for the self-care and mutual care of visitors.

Sources: 

Semana, cultura, 1 julio 2017, retrieved from: https://www.semana.com/sudespensa-empresa-canadiense-que-importa-leguminosas-cereales-y-granos-en-colombia/530490/ 
Technical Bulletin of the national agricultural survey ENA, Dane, 2019, retrieved from https://www.dane.gov.co/files/investigaciones/agropecuario/enda/ena/2019/boletin_ena_2019-I.pdf 
Asmar. S., 10 de febrero 2021, Agronegocios, retrieved from: https://www.agronegocios.co/agricultura/en-el-dia-mundial-de-las-legumbres-el-frijol-y-la-arveja-son-los-mas-sembrados-en-colombia-3123363 
 

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