As agriculture in Antioquia becomes more prominent and necessitated, TOM, a global initiative fostered in our home country, sets forth an initiative to help small-scale farmers.
For years, socioeconomic strains have shaped small farmers’ livelihoods in our department. As the agricultural sector stands as one of the main economic drivers of the region, it’s becoming an increasingly important focus to support small businesses in facilitating them to make a living off of their farms. Unlike large industries, these farmers face the burdens of transportation logistics, quality control, and efficiency, and suffer the consequences to their fullest extent, greatly reducing profitability and sustainability. TOM Agro, a newly introduced branch of the TOM Colombia community, strives to create scalable solutions for small farmers.
“The rural development seen in the Antioquia countryside is the basis of the socioeconomic thrust of an entire nation,” Santiago López Vélez, TOM Logistics leader, said.
This year’s set of problems will put the abilities of over 40 students, mentors, and engineers abilities to use by addressing the challenges of 4 need knowers (farmers), Yeison, Marleny, and her neighbors, Carlos, and Ricaute. Makers will have to create solutions for expanding the outreach of Yeison’s sales, cleaning numerous dozens of uneven eggs, and safely transporting them by hand, bus, and motorcycle through rough terrain, efficiently and cheaply mix high loads of chicken manure, and toast high loads with a cheap and durable solution. These easily scalable solutions will set forth an initiative to improve the livelihoods of farmers; by helping four people, TOM creates the path to help hundreds, maybe even thousands.
“Coming together to help these people improve their lives and businesses is truly an unforgettable experience,” Martin Villa, TOM maker, said.
Prior to the start of Pre TOM Agro, the school community took on the task of helping Yeison amplify the outreach of his market by allowing him to sell his fresh produce within the TCS community. Student makers and mentors sewed dozens of bags to promote Yeison’s brand and allow him to sell the bags alongside his produce.
The positive results of TOM throughout the seven years this project has been fostered in our school are not only the product of student initiative. Mentors from various institutions are the backbone of each team, they work hard to come up with ideas and foster cohesion in their groups to create an atmosphere of productivity and creativity.
“It’s great to come together with people already in university or in the workforce, it gives us a really unique opportunity to connect with people we wouldn’t otherwise have met,” Emilia Quintero, TOM maker, said.
TOM, an initiative rooted 7 years ago, is expanding its branches and helping society in different ways, from the small-scale farmer to entire communities that can benefit from the scalable solutions makers create.
¿Will we be able to do it again? Asked Hector Londoño, TOM Colombia Representative.