Personal Statement

Almost every inhabitant of the Colombian Amazon has an interesting story to tell about their home, which is one of the most amazing places in the world. The Amazon provides survival experiences, exotic food, extreme recreation, and a unique livelihood to all those who have lived there. However, the character and future of many have also been shaped by a context of poverty, harsh violence, restricted opportunities, geographical disparities and gender inequity. Their best memories are overshadowed by the consequences of many social, political and economic conflicts such as the coca cultivation, the armed conflict, the failure of social claims, the ineffective measures adopted by the Government, and recently, the collapse of financial pyramids.

Today, as a result of a long and bloody conflict and also the State weakness in meeting its constitutional obligations, especially in directing the economy, we sadly note that the Amazon has a growing urban population due to displacement, is a net food importer, has food security at risk, and faces major challenges around land restitution and rural development. Although, this situation is not very different from the rest of Colombia, it is particularly worrying in the Amazon. There, besides deepening inequality and vulnerability, it endangers the preservation of environmentally strategic areas. Some concrete and ambitious actions should be taken to address the crisis in rural areas in order to prevent the expansion of the agricultural frontier.

As an Amazonian inhabitant, I have witnessed the loss of the natural wealth of the rainforest and the struggle of a society to find a better future in the midst of difficulties. This environmental and social context has always encouraged me to better...

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... due to the vulnerability of the sector. It is absolutely necessary to carry out further research in these areas.

I think that my project is not only academic but also political, because I am convinced that the heavy structures that define Politics and Policies must be changed by the exercise of the values that support democracy, the priority in improving the poor and vulnerable people, and decision-making based on scientific and technical findings. I want to study a Ph.D. program in Agricultural Economics in order to make a critical analysis of the rural issues; and also to propose, implement and evaluate actions in the framework of the reforms that are being undertaken in Colombia. I know that this step will help me reach my goal of being an independent, objective and rigorous voice capable to contribute a local and sectorial approach for sustainable development.