Department Of Cordoba Research Articles

Diversidad de bacterias endofitas asociadas a cultivo de arroz en el departamento de Cordoba-Colombia. Estudio preliminar

Las bacterias endófitas viven en el interior de las plantas sin causar daño en ellas. Su presencia ha sido relacionada con un aumento en la productividad de los cultivos debido a que produce hormonas de crecimiento, antagonistas de patógenos o pueden fijar nitrógeno. En este trabajo se estudió la composición de comunidades de bacterias endófitas cultivables asociadas a diferentes tejidos de cuatro variedades comerciales de arroz del departamento de Córdoba. Para el aislamiento se utilizó técnica de desinfección superficial de tejidos, el aislamiento se llevó a cabo en medio de cultivo agar R2A. La densidad poblacional (UFC/g de tejido) se realizó por conteo de colonias en placa. Las significancias estadísticas entre densidad poblacional, con relación a tejidos y variedad, se hizo mediante análisis multifactorial y prueba múltiple de rango (Tukey). Los resultados muestran que existe una densidad poblacional de bacterias endófitas asociadas a plantas de arroz; la abundancia está relacionada con el tejido y la variedad estudiada. Este estudio preliminar da inicio al conocimiento de esas comunidades bacterianas y la funcionalidad que puedan estar ejerciendo en esta especie vegetal.

Knowledge Management Model for Fruit-Horticultural Agroindustry Case: Córdoba - Colombia

This article describes the characteristics that the network of knowledge has in the productive chain of fruit- horticultural, during the stages of harvesting and post-harvesting, especially in a relevant Colombia zone, the Cordoba department. There, the following components are integrated: technicians, organizations and producers from the fruit-horticultural sector, lined up to a model of knowledge management that describes the main components of this network, schematized by nodes or resources of knowledge, that are based upon several internal and external agents that facilitate the process. Its effect is being evaluated according to indicators or conduct of a network of applied knowledge in the Fruit Agroindustry, as in the case of the Cordoba department and the Caribe region of Colombia.

Noteworthy record of subsistence hunting and meat consumption of jaguarundi (<i>Puma yagouaroundi</i>) in Colombia

ABSTRACTWild felids in the Americas are generally considered as cultural icons and are respected and revered by most of the cultures. However, they are considered threatened across their ranges, mostly by habitat loss and fragmentation, and both direct and prey hunting. Small felids are usually seriously affected by retaliation hunting caused by conflicts derived from wild cats’ predation on domestic animals; however, few records exist for subsistence hunting and consumption of these species by local communities. Here we report the hunting and consumption of and adult male jaguarundi in the Cordoba department of Colombia. The animal was hunted using dogs; the carcass was prepared and was saved for later consumption during religious holidays by the entire community. This represents the first direct record of jaguarundi consumption across its range, representing an important aspect for wild felids’ conservation among rural marginalized communities across Latin America. Key Words: Carnivora, Colombia, Córdoba, felidae, poaching, Puma yagouaroudi, South America, Palabras clave: Cacería, Carnívora, Colombia, Córdoba, Felidae, Puma yagouaroundi, Suramérica

Vertebrados asociados con sistemas de ganadería extensiva en el departamento de Córdoba, Colombia

The diversity of species of vertebrates associated with remnants of dry tropical forest in a system of extensive ranching in the department of Cordoba was analyzed. The samples were conducted in May 2011 during the season of intense precipitations of short duration, using different sampling methods according to the taxonomical group. Product of our samples, 90 species of vertebrates were documented, being the birds the best represented group with 46 species, followed by the mammals with 17 species, while the reptiles and amphibians were only presented 15 and 12 species respectively. We hypothesize that the variety of habitats present in the study area allows the establishment of a number of species for every taxonomic group which play important ecological roles, emphasizing the importance of the zone in terms of conservation of the vertebrate fauna for the region.

Vegetation Database of the Colombian Caribbean Region

Dry and humid forests around wetlands at the department of Cordoba, Caribbean region of Colombia Fragment forests around swamp complexes in several localities at the department of Cordoba were sampled with 77 plots. In each plot all individuals with height up to 1.5 m were censused, measuring their diameter at breast height, coverage and individual height. Inside each area, the herbaceous layer was inventoried with 5 plots of 2x2 m. Observations about disturbance (intervention class, grade, matrix and contrast type) were taken and physical-chemical soil conditions were characterized to complement the characterization with basis on floristic composition and structure. Using the Twinspan program (PC Ord ver. 4) global tables of group segregation were obtained with which a group differentiation was found. These groups showed a floristic composition closely related with the patterns observed on the field. Around the swamps, vegetation is grouped in the class Craveto tapieae-Astronietea guianensis, order Bursero simauroubaeCavanillesietalia platanifoliae characterized by the dominance of Cavanillesia platanifolia. In this humid forest formation (26 Lev), characterized by large-size individuals of Cavanillesia platanifolia, are included the association of Cratevo tapiae-Cavanillesion platanifoliae alliance like forests of Cordietum protacto-panamensis, Cappari odoratissimatis-Cavanilletum platanifoliae and the mixed palm Sabali mauritiformis-Cavanillesietum platanifoliae. There are also other plant communities that can be assigned to the dry forest formation (51 Lev) characterized by the dominance of tree or shrub size individuals principally Cochlospermum vitifolium, Apeiba aspera, Trichilia acuminata, Attalea butyraceae and Guazuma ulmifolia. Among the characterized associations are Cinnamomo triplinervis-Apeibetum asperae, Cochlospermo vitifoli-Attaleetum butyraceae, Cordia alliodorae-Attaleetum butyraceae and Adenocalymno inundati-Astronietum graveolentis. In this group, forests around the swamps in flooded and non-flooded areas (related to the tropical dry forest formation) have two formation types, one with vigorous elements, height up to 18 meters as the associations of the Dialio guinensis-Mataybion elegantis alliance that include the mixed palm Viticis capitatae-Acrocomietum aculeatae and the Xilopio aromaticae-Tapiretum guianensis. The Phillanto elsiae-Tabebuion roseae alliance includes low rise vegetation, woods and residual forests, as the Annono punicifoliae-Pithecellobietum lanceolati and the shoreline Symmerio paniculatae-Bactrietum guieenensis mangrove thickets in flooded areas. Another forest and thicket in flooded areas (5 Lev) are the “campanales” of Caseario tremulae-Samaneetum samanensis and the forests of the Coccolobo costatae-Acacietum huilanae association and the thickets dominated by Montrichardia arborescens. The structural arrangement, particularly classes distribution is related with type and degree of perturbation of the characterized communities; logging and grazing distort the disetaneo behaviour of natural forests where the higher’ percentage of individuals should be distributed in the first classes. The Caseario tremulae – Samaneetum samanensis association is a representative case where the intensive grazing has driven this flooded forest to degradation; this is observable in the height classes’ distribution, with the higher individuals’ percentage (31%) in class III. The intervention grade of the humid and dry tropical forests characterized in this study can be classified from low (26%) to high (13%) predominating the mid degree (61%) making evident the current pressure to which this ecosystems are subjected mainly due to land use change for animal breeding, agriculture or mining .However there are still fragmented forests with acceptable characteristics for conservation which will be a starting point for the formulation of ecological restoration models. This report describes the available content in the Vegetation Database of the Colombian Caribbean Region (GIVD ID SA-CO-002).

Rickettsiosis, una enfermedad letal emergente y re-emergente en Colombia

<p>Rickettsiosis was first described in Colombia in 1937 by Dr Luis Patiño during an outbreak of a disease with unspecific signs. Rickettsia is a genus of Gram-negative intracellular obligatory bacteria having caused several epidemics around the world, and are transmitted mainly by ticks, fleas, lice and mites. The most fatal within this group of diseases is known as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF), which is caused by Rickettsia rickettsia. There is also the endemic typhus caused by Rickettsia typhi and epidemic typhus caused by Rickettsia prowazekii. In Colombia, several outbreaks of RMSF have occurred during the last decade. The best known among those have hit the municipalities of Necoclí and Turbo, in Antioquia in 2006 and 2008 respectively, and Los Cordobas in the department of Cordoba in 2007. The goal of this review is to describe the state of the art of rickettsiosis, a forgotten lethal disease that has re-emerged in our country, and leave some questions as an inspiration for future research that will hopefully lead scientists to a better understanding of this entity potentially endemic in some areas of Colombia.</p><p><br /><strong>Key words</strong>: outbreak, emerging, reservoir, rickettsiosis, vector, typhus, zoonoses.</p>

Antibody to Arenaviruses in Rodents, Caribbean Colombia

Antibody to Arenaviruses in Rodents, Caribbean Colombia

Supplementation of lactating calves dual purpose in the dry season in the middle Sinu alley, Colombia

El objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar la ganancia de peso vivo y la relación beneficio - costo de terneras lactantes manejadas bajo el sistema doble propósito, suplementadas con semilla de algodón y melaza, durante la época seca en la finca Picacho, municipio de Montería, departamento de Córdoba, Colombia. Se utilizaron 26 terneras mestizas, divididas aleatoriamente en un grupo testigo (13 animales), que recibía el manejo tradicional de la finca y un grupo experimental (13 animales), que tomaban un suplemento alimenticio, a base de semilla de algodón y de melaza. Los animales, después de un periodo de adaptación de dos semanas, fueron pesados cada 14 días, durante 84 días. Para el análisis estadístico, se aplicó la prueba t de Student y análisis de varianza de medidas repetidas en el tiempo. La relación beneficio ? costo, se obtuvo a través de la técnica del presupuesto parcial. El promedio de la ganancia diaria de peso difirió (P≤0.05) entre el grupo experimental (484g) y el testigo (346g). Los ingresos netos generados por el tratamiento experimental fueron de 80.462 pesos y para el testigo, 58.154. El incremento en el ingreso neto fue de 22.308 pesos, con una tasa de retorno marginal de 1,73 y un beneficio económico del grupo experimental sobre el testigo de 9.346 por animal. Se concluyó que el suplemento disminuyó el efecto negativo de la época seca sobre la ganancia de peso, además, de ser una alternativa económicamente viable.

GANANCIA GENÉTICA ESPERADA EN TECA (Tectona grandis L.f.) EN CÓRDOBA (COLOMBIA)

La revista Colombia Forestal publica manuscritos originales en temáticas del campo forestal y diversos aspectos de los recursos naturales y del medio ambiente, los cuales se discriminan en las categorías de artículo de investigación, de revisión, de reflexión y notas técnicas de acuerdo con lo estipulado por COLCIENCIAS para las publicaciones científicas. De acuerdo a la clasificación de áreas científicas de la Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económico (OCDE), la revista Colombia Forestal pertenece al gran área de Ciencias Agrícolas(4), área de Agricultura, Silvicultura y Pesca(4A) y a la disciplina Forestal (4A02).

Dinámica de crecimiento de pasturas con manejo rotacional en diferente topografía en un sistema de producción de carne vacuna en córdoba, Colombia

El objetivo del estudio fue caracterizar la dinámica de crecimiento y productividad de dos pasturas con manejo rotacional, una en zona ondulada (TA) y otra en zona baja (TB), en un sistema de producción de carne vacuna en el departamento de Córdoba, Colombia, durante la época seca. Se estudiaron variables morfogénicas, de producción forrajera, de calidad nutricional y de desempeño animal. La pastura de zona baja correspondió a 64 ha divididas en 32 potreros, y la de zona colinada a 70 ha con 27 divisiones. Se utilizaron animales cebú con peso medio inicial de 376 kg en la TB y de 297 kg en la TA. Se realizaron evaluaciones durante 60 días. En la zona baja predominaron D. aristatum, C. nlefluensis y B. mutica, y en la colinada B. pertusa. La producción media de materia seca fue de 2.913 kg/ha en la TB y de 3.830 kg/ha en TA, con 31 y 34,5% de materia seca, respectivamente. La tasa media de elongación foliar fue de 4.1 cm/día en TB y de 6,0 cm/día en TA, con valor medio de formación de una hoja cada 3,4 días y cada 4,3 días, respectivamente, y una densidad de rebrotes/m2 de 3.824 en TB y 2.012,8 en TA. La relación hoja: tallo fue de 1,2:1 en TB y 2,9:1 en TA. El valor medio de la ganancia diaria de peso de los animales durante el periodo fue de 0,511 kg en la TB y de 0,340 kg en TA. Se concluye que la dinámica de crecimiento de las pasturas estudiadas presenta características propias en cada zona topográfica, las cuales influyen sobre la productividad del sistema de producción. Por tanto, se recomienda que las características morfogénicas de los pastos sean consideradas a la hora de definir la estrategia de pastoreo a implementar bajo las condiciones del estudio.

Bioecología del picudo del tallo del maíz Linogeraeus capillatus (LeConte) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) en el departamento de Córdoba-Colombia

En el Caribe colombiano Linogeraeus capillatus a tomando importancia dentro del agroecosistema maíz reportándose en los municipios de Codazzi-Cesar en 1975, en San Onofre-Sucre y en los municipios de Montería, Cereté, Ciénaga de Oro, San Carlos, San Pelayo, Cotorra, Lorica, Chimá en el departamento de Córdoba. El objetivo de la presente investigación fue conocer sus aspectos bioecológicos abarcando su ciclo de vida y la caracterización morfológica de sus instares, para esto se contó con 350 larvas discriminadas en los diferentes instares. Parejas recién emergidas se confinaron en jaulas entomológicas de 50x50 cm, sobre plantas de maíz completamente sanas y mediante muestreo destructivo se confirmó la densidad de larvas vivas presentes. Bajo condiciones de laboratorio a temperatura de 29,23°C, el huevo presentó una duración de 5,3 días, las larvas de 158,2 días y la pupa 34,44 días. La cantidad de huevos por oviposición oscila entre 22-24 huevos (4,4 a 4,8 huevos/planta), con longitud promedio de 1 mm. Las larvas presentan cinco instares, los cuales se desarrollan dentro de la planta. Las arvenses Sorghum halepense y Dichantium aristatum fueron las principales plantas hospederas para los adultos de L. capillatus. Como enemigos naturales de adultos de L. capillatus se registraron los depredadores del orden Araneae representadas por las familias Dipluridae y Lycosidae, mientras que la acción depredadora de los estados larvales la ejercieron hormigas del género Solenopsis.

Seroprevalence of Brucella abortus in cattle of the Cordoba department

The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of bovine brucellosis in the department of Cordoba. The study was conducted from April 2006 to December 2008 and included 29.969 animals in this area of the country, 29.227 females and 742 males. For diagnose techniques, Rose Bengal (n = 29.628) and indirect ELISA (n=341) were employed. With the Rose Bengal test 1.027 animals were seropositive and 86 animals were with indirect ELISA. The study included 4.922 farms of the department, 635 of them positive for brucellosis. In the area of high Sinu a seroprevalence of 3.96% was found, in Low Sinu it was of 3,8%, in the Middle Sinu of 3,7% and in the Upper San Jorge 3.6%. In animals the prevalence of bovine brucellosis was of 3.71% and in farms of 12.7%. The results showed a promising and important progress in controlling and eradicating this livestock disease in this region of Colombia.

In memory of master Orlando falls Borda: basis and development of participatory action research in Cordoba (Colombia)

On March 6, 1972, sociologist Orlando Fals Borda, a native of Barranquilla, arrived in Monteria. He was commissioned by the Rosca Foundation for Research and Social Action to work on the Coast, based in Monteria. The work of Orlando Fals in the peasant movement of Cordoba was of a high-impact, but controversial and treated in an unjust manner. Although he worked especially with the managers and leaders of associations of the city of Monteria and in Cordoba department, its programs and actions affected the entire movement. However, Orlando had to live with many stigmas despite his explanations and open work done. Newly arrived from Bogota, I had references of some works of Orlando. When I realize that he was in Montería I looked for him, we talked several times, I felt identified with the plan he had and we decided to work together. It was this intense, creative and risky work which allowed me to get to know Orlando as a person, humanist and intellectual honest and committed.

Frecuencia de hemoparásitos en bovinos del bajo Cauca y alto San Jorge. 2000 – 2005

Objetivo. Determinar la frecuencia de hemoparásitos en los bovinos evaluados por microscopía directa en el laboratorio Lavebac- ASOGAUCA. Materiales y métodos. Se aplicó un modelo epidemiológico cuyo diseño de investigación fue transeccional de tipo descriptivo retrospectivo transversal. Se analizó la totalidad de los datos de los últimos 5 años, proporcionados por el laboratorio Lavebac que presta su servicio a las regiones del Bajo Cauca Antioqueño y Córdoba. Se realizó un análisis de tendencias por el tipo de parásito, sistema de explotación, procedencia y época climática; seguido de un análisis comparativo de asociación utilizando la razón de disparidad (RD) y el X2, mediante el programa EPI-INFO versión 3.3. Resultados. Se encontró una frecuencia hemoparasitaria del 22.5%, y de estos el 59.3% correspondió a Anaplasma sp, el 3.1% a Babesia sp y para Trypanosoma sp 30.9%. La región con mayor frecuencia hemoparasitaria fue Bajo Cauca (14%); los diagnósticos positivos fueron realizados con mayor frecuencia en época seca (14.9%), en la que se detectó mayor proporción de infección por Anaplasma sp. Conclusiones. Los resultados dan una aproximación a la frecuencia y distribución de Trypanosoma sp, Babesia sp y Anaplasma sp en dos zonas ganaderas de Colombia, en donde durante la época seca se encontró un mayor porcentaje de infección, y de los agentes hemoparasitarios Anaplasma sp es el más frecuente.

West Nile Virus Antibodies in Colombian Horses

To the Editor: West Nile Virus (WNV) is rapidly spreading in the Western Hemisphere (1). We report the first evidence for WNV transmission in South America. WNV is serologically related to the Japanese encephalitis complex of flaviviruses (Flaviviridae), which includes Saint Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) (in North and South America), Japanese encephalitis virus (Asia), and Murray Valley encephalitis virus (Australia) (2). Because of antigenic cross-reactivity within this complex, WNV serologic diagnosis requires highly specific assays, such as the plaque-reduction neutralization test (PRNT) (3). We used PRNT to evaluate serum collected from 130 healthy equines (horses and donkeys) in Colombia, where WNV had not been previously reported. These equines were sampled between September 15 and October 29, 2004, in the northern departments of Cordoba and Sucre in the Caribbean region of Colombia. Samples were heat-inactivated and titrated by PRNT for antibodies to WNV, SLEV, and 3 other South American flaviviruses: Rocio, Ilheus, and Bussuquara. Twelve specimens (9%) from 10 different premises tested positive for WNV (Table). None of these animals had been vaccinated against WNV or had traveled outside of the region. An equine immunoglobulin (Ig) M-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that used WNV antigen detected anti-WNV IgM in 2 of the 12 specimens, which indicated that some of these infections were relatively recent (probably within 3 months of sampling). The positive findings in both Cordoba and Sucre were corroborated by a WNV-specific blocking ELISA (4). Numerous other samples exhibited flavivirus reactivity in the neutralization and blocking ELISA assays, mostly because of SLEV. Complete test results from these horses, as well as from Colombian cattle and chickens, will be presented elsewhere. Table PRNT90 antibody titers to WNV and other South American flaviviruses for Colombian equine sera*† These serologic data should be considered indirect evidence of WNV activity in Colombia. We encourage Colombian human and animal health authorities to enhance surveillance for human, equine, and avian disease attributable to WNV. Efforts are needed to isolate the virus or detect specific viral RNA to confirm this finding and to identify vectors and vertebrate hosts involved in WNV transmission in Colombia.

Leptospirosis ocupacional en una región del Caribe colombiano

To establish the seroprevalence of infection by Leptospira in an occupational setting in Cordoba. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 334 farmworkers, butchers, and garbage collectors, to identify the presence of anti-leptospira IgM antibodies, in the Department of Cordoba, Colombia. Stratified sampling proportional to the number of inhabitants and occupation was used to select the sample population (confidence level 99.9%, error 0.5%, prevalence 72%). The SPSS software 11.0 version was used to perform non parametric tests with p < 0.05, as well as odds ratios with confidence intervals. The prevalence of previous infection by Leptospira was high (13.1%). No differences among areas were found, however, higher infection was associated with living in Cienaga de Oro municipality (OR = 3.52 Cl 1.70-7.26) (p = 0,00283). Being a farmer was also a risk factor for infection (OR = 2.04 Cl 1.080-3.85) (p = 0.025), as well as drinking water from a dam (OR = 2.4 CI 1.24-4.70) (p = 0.00787). The rate of infection is important and a significant public health problem in this area of the Colombian Caribbean coast.

Effectiveness of selective chemical treatments on concentrating magnetic minerals of samples from a nickel-ore peridotite mantle

Two magnetic samples, collected at 5 m and 52 m from the top of a weathering mantle developing on peridotite, from the Cerro Matoso (7° 54' 31" N 75° 33' 23" W) mining area for nickel, Department of Cordoba, Colombia, were submitted to magnetic separation with a hand magnet in the laboratory. The so concentrated samples were found to contain intimately associated magnetic and non-magnetic minerals. The magnetic phases were further concentrated by selective chemical treatments with 5 mol L-1 NaOH to remove silicates, and with a mixture citrate - bicarbonate - dithionite, to remove non-magnetic iron oxides. Powder X-ray diffractometry, RT Mössbauer spectroscopy, saturation magnetization measurements, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and optical microscopy analyses were used to give a mineralogical description of the magnetic phases. The chemical treatments were effective on concentrating iron oxides so to improve the mineralogical analysis of this nickel ore. Mössbauer analysis revealed that NaOH selectively removed silicates and chromite from samples, whereas CBD dissolved hematite, goethite, and partially oxidized non-stoichiometric magnetite.

Modelo de producción de dos toneladas de carne por hectárea año en el valle del sinú.

En una finca localizada en el municipio de Cereté, departamento de Córdoba, se evaluó técnica y económicamente un modelo de producción proyectado para producir dos toneladas de carne por hectárea año. Para el efecto, en una pradera sembrada con pasto estrella ( Cynodon nlemfuensis ) de dos hectáreas se estableció un sistema rotacional de 4 potreros, manejados con 15 días de descanso y 5 de ocupación con una carga de 7 animales/ hectárea, con peso inicial de 131 kilos, suplementados durante la época de lluvias con 0.5 kilos/animal/día de semilla de algodón y en el período seco con ensilaje de maíz o de sorgo sudax, balanceado con 0.3% de urea más 1.0 ó 1.5 kilos de semilla de algodón con salvado de arroz. La evaluación tuvo una duración de 365 días (31-05-02 al 31-05-03). Durante la época de lluvias (224 días) los animales obtuvieron una ganancia diaria promedia de 0.912 kilos/animal/día, mientras que en la época seca (141 días) alcanzaron un promedio de 0.567 kilos/animal/día, para un promedio diario durante los 365 días de 0.777 kilos/animal/día. La ganancia promedia diaria por hectárea fue de 5.45 kilos lo que resultó en una ganancia de 1.988 kilos por hectárea año, muy próximo al objetivo planteado. El análisis económico, incluyendo en el rubro de gastos el alquiler de la tierra y los intereses al capital, arrojó una utilidad líquida por hectárea / año de $1.541.176. Se concluyó que es posible la producción de dos toneladas de carne por hectárea año bajo las condiciones del valle del Sinú y que además, el modelo propuesto es susceptible de ser mejorado en las estrategias alimenticias durante la época seca y la disponibilidad de pasto en el período de lluvias a fin de incrementar la rentabilidad.

Efecto de la época del parto y del sistema de amamantamiento sobre la eficiencia reproductiva de vacas del sistema doble propósito.

Se evaluó el efecto de la época del parto y el sistema de amamantamiento en la eficiencia reproductiva postparto de vacas manejadas bajo el sistema de doble propósito en una finca ubicada en el municipio de Chinú Departamento de córdoba. Se utilizaron 60 vacas multíparas homogéneas en el número de partos, producción de leche, manejo, sanidad, ambiente y alimentación. Se distribuyeron en cuatro tratamientos utilizando un diseño completamente al azar, con un arreglo factorial 2x2 con dos épocas (sequía y lluvia) y dos sistemas de amamantamiento (tradicional y restringido) con 15 repeticiones por grupo experimental: T1 – Sequía x tradicional – T2 – sequía x restringido - T3 – Lluvia x tradicional – T4 – Lluvia x restringido. La época no tuvo efecto (P&gt;0.05) sobre la tasa de gestación (50% para la época seca vs 40% para la época de lluvia) ni los días abiertos (132.13 + 65.35 vs 138.71 + 60.21 para la época de sequía y lluvia respectivamente). Se encontró un efecto del amamantamiento sobre la tasa de gestación y los días abiertos (P

A Proposal for a System for Societal Control in the National Audit Office of Colombia

This paper presents a project of the National Audit Office of Colombia (Contraloria General de la Republica; CGR) to experiment with possibilities of societal control systems as a fundamental element to implement mechanisms to control the activities of State agencies. The paper describes the activities initiated to develop an experiment in a particular locality, the municipality of Sahagun in the Department of Cordoba. We also try to expound historical circumstances and background related to participatory schemes in Colombian society, as well as attempts made by the State to address these issues.