Interview: Dora Isabel Ochoa Aguilar Human Resources Manager at Agrícola Belher.

Technician in Radiology and graduate of the Degree in Social Work of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Lic. Dora Ochoa is today one of the most valuable elements of Agricola Belher, company owned by Ing. Rosario Antonio Beltrán.

Motivated by her concern to support, guide and interact with people, she decided to return to Culiacan, Sinaloa, her hometown, to practice her profession in the agricultural sector in the social aspect.

1. Could you tell us a bit about your professional experience?

Before returning to Culiacán and working in Agrícola Belher, he settled in D.F. Where I studied and later exerted as teacher in the UNAM and in the National Polytechnic in the subjects of public health and social work in community.

2. How did you join Agrícola Belher?

A year after Ing. Beltrán began operations with Agrícola Belher, he invited me to work with him. It was precisely when he started with the construction of the Lo de Beltrán field, so he was very interested in the subject of social security, especially in the part of nurseries.

For him this issue was of vital importance, since with his experience in the sector he had previously witnessed the children accompanying their parents to the field due to the lack of these facilities.

So, I went back and visited the Valley of Culiacan, which I did not know, and I realized everything involved in producing a tomato; Is a truly amazing process.

3. In what areas have you worked within the company?

Since I arrived in Belher I have had the opportunity to participate in different areas. At first I took over the administrative part, including purchasing issues, due to the internal logistics that I had at that time.

Participate also in the management of the program of Care for Agricultural Day laborers in the beginning, mainly supporting to organize everything, establishing an order within shelters when defining roles.

Over time, I was appointed Human Resources Manager, making me responsible for all of the company: day laborers and their families, packaging and administrative personnel.

4. How was the process that the company lived to obtain Eleven Rivers certification?

Before getting the first certification there was a lot of resistance within the farm, but it was not resistance from the superiors, but from the middle managers. However, it was a resistance without arguments that did not proceed.

The only thing we needed to certify ourselves was to analyze the scheme, to know it and to propose to fulfill it because we had everything.

The key point was to document, because if you as a company do not document your processes, even if you do things well there is no evidence to prove it. This is how we began to work on policies, procedures, engagement letters, etc..; Each of these documents was reviewed by the general manager, Mr. Antonio Beltrán, and once with his approval, this information was communicated to the managers and they in turn shared the information to their work team.

5. How has Agrícola Belher worked to maintain a competitive advantage in the sector?

When I joined the company, I had to manage everything related to the new demands in terms of safety.

It was then that we began to work with the State Committee of Plant Protection of the State of Sinaloa (CESAVESIN), step by step, and from 2007 we obtained the certifications of the National Service of Health, Food Safety, and Agro-Food Quality (SENASICA), between Others.

Subsequently all issues related to social responsibility were presented and a program was launched to obtain the Socially Responsible Company (ESR) badge; Thus, complementing the safety part.

Finally, Eleven Rivers arrives, which for us was an “all” and was precisely what we needed, a scheme that was integral.

This has helped us a lot since the safety staff, for example, allows you to see your processes from another perspective to maintain a global vision and start to be sensitized with the rest of the areas of the company.

6. How does getting Eleven Rivers certification help you meet the different schemes that the market requires?

Before obtaining the first certification, General Management Advisor Morales focused on reviewing the Eleven Rivers Regulatory Scheme and realized that, except for some very specific points that have certain schemes, obtaining Eleven Rivers would undoubtedly help us Comply with any certification we would like.

7. Agrícola Belher was certified again with Eleven Rivers, now in version 2.2 How do you perceive the updates that were made to the scheme?

I think the changes in the version, mainly in the area of ​​social responsibility, somehow “overshoot” the company and this can be a challenge.

For example, certain documentation is required that the person who transports workers to and from their home city is required: insurance policy, traffic card, stop log, food hour pictures, etc. Many people may argue that this is very difficult to meet; In our case everything was fulfilled in April, even though it is a month in which the movement of personnel was very scarce.

This is the proof that nothing is impossible.

8. Today social responsibility plays a very important role in the national and international market. In what way has Belher Agricultural been prepared to meet these new requirements?

We first have ensured internal social responsibility, that is, meeting the needs of our workers.

In the shelters, we have provided the tools for the children to study, we transport the young people to primary, secondary and preparatory; We promote sport with children, young people and adults; We provide free gas in the homes of workers and other services; We have DICONSA stores; In short, we focus on improving the quality of life of our workers in each of its aspects.

What comes after this? Focus on the outside. The time came when we had to look outside, because our workers work in an environment and it is necessary to extend our work to these communities by supporting in different ways such as: uniforms, sports accessories; As well as for institutions and NGOs.

It is important, after all, to open to the community in which the company carries out its activities.

9. In general, what is the most satisfying thing about this job?

I think they are endless experiences that have marked me during all these years, so I would not know where to start.

But, particularly, what moves me most is to see when the children finish their school year.

I am very excited to be able to be part of this, but it also makes me wonder: why do not all children have the opportunity to continue? What’s next for them ?.

10. Anything else you want to add?

I would like to thank Mr. Rosario Antonio Beltrán for giving me this opportunity.

Allowing me to play in this environment has helped me to grow and learn a lot from people; And during all this time I have always counted on his unconditional support and that if without doubt he is thanked.