Viabilidad técnica y financiera de la producción sostenible de almidón de sagú en la Finca San Rafael

Abstract

This study evaluates the technical, financial, and environmental viability of sustainable sago starch (Canna indica L.) production at the San Rafael Farm, located in Manta, Cundinamarca. Through a mixed-methods approach, the research demonstrates high edaphoclimatic compatibility on the property, determining via Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools that 88,7% of the land is suitable for cultivation. The spatial design was structured using a three-dimensional (3D) model in QGIS, which proposes contour strip cropping and ecological diversification through a sago-pea intercropping system and the conservation of native species, thereby optimizing soil and water conservation. On the other hand, the Environmental Impact Assessment, conducted through a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in OpenLCA software and based on a 130 m² experimental plot, identified that the establishment and maintenance stages generate the highest global warming potential due to fuel consumption, while the processing stage concentrates the largest water footprint. To address this, mitigation measures such as water recirculation and the use of bioinputs are proposed. Finally, the 5-year financial evaluation projected using the FAO’s RuralInvest (RIV20) software demonstrated the high profitability of the project, achieving an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 66,18%, a Net Present Value (NPV) of $116,466,741, and a payback period of 2.35 years. The sensitivity analysis confirmed the model's resilience even under pessimistic scenarios of price and production reductions, consolidating this proposal as a sustainable, viable, and replicable agro-industrial alternative for the region's peasant economy.