Interview: Rosario Antonio Beltrán Ureta CEO of Agrícola Belher

Rosario Antonio Beltrán Ureta CEO of Agrícola Belher, Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Commission for Research and Defense of Vegetables (CIDH) and representative of the Confederation of Agricultural Associations of the Sinaloa State (CAADES) before the Board of Directors of Eleven Rivers.

Coming from a family of pioneers and being a key part of Sinaloa agriculture, Mr. Beltrán expressed with passion and determination his vision of some challenges facing the agricultural industry of the entity.

1. How did you started in agriculture?

It was in 1978, after my father passed away, that I joined the family business in partnership with my uncle Juan Antonio, for the course of La Palma Navolato. In 1989, 11 years later, we decided to become independent.

2. What is the secret for a company to be successful from generation to generation?

It is important to inculcate to the children the love for what we do; why it does and the roots of where we come from.

But it is also important to know that you can not demand someone to continue the tradition, if not your vocation. To succeed in the things you undertake, you must do it with passion, because there is something more uncomfortable than working in a place that you don’t like.

3. Based on your experience, could you identify the highlights of the development of agriculture in Sinaloa?

The first breakthrough was the change from ground tomato to stick tomato, back in the late 50’s; Then came the drip irrigation and later was the development of new varieties of tomato with long shelf life that allowed to increase production yield 3 times more and expand market coverage.

At the end of the 90’s the first models of shade mesh were developed and for 2000 the protected agriculture began to grow significantly. Yields multiplied again 4 or 5 times more and significantly improved quality.

“You must distribute the money equitably everywhere, to everyone, in their measure, to benefit all those who make up the circle of production and if we invest in technology we must also invest in our people.”

4. In addition to technological changes, companies have had to modify their internal dynamics in different aspects, how do you felt these changes for the sector?

Very strong, I think this has been changing day by day and you must keep the factors of production in harmony to be competitive. You need to have all the factors of production well-adjusted. I’ve always said that; One of the most important factors is the people with whom the work is done.

As producers, we have talked and invested heavily in technology; We have talked about everything, but we have not talked about people and that is one of our mistakes. We must see it in an integral way. Pay well to workers, with their benefits; That they are happy; Because it is what comes to give identity to the business.

You must distribute the money equitably everywhere, to each one, in its measure, to benefit all those who make up the circle of production and if we invest in technology we must also invest in our people.

That is the most important factor of a company and I believe that part of the success that we have in Agricola Belher, is that, its people and I can say it with much pride.

5. On one occasion you stated that social responsibility came to stay, could you tell us why you consider it so?

It is no longer possible to conceive a business otherwise. The role of entrepreneurs is nothing more than filling pockets of money; As well as generating capital, you also must have a responsibility to the worker.

When a worker goes out into the field and knows that his or her child is well cared for, nurtured, attending school, and that all his or her needs are met, then we have a worker who is calm, content, and focused on what he is doing.

Therefore, that weight that is invested in social responsibility is doubled, and I think this is something that we all need to think about and keep investing.

6. Is there any experience that marked it in the field of social responsibility?

Some years ago, Mrs. Dora Ochoa, Human Resources Manager in the farm, invited me to graduation from Angél Flores Elementary School in the community of Lo de Sauceda in the municipality of Navolato, which is the school the Children of my workers.

This experience moved me a lot because I also attended that same school as a child and I could realize how the migrant children of the community of Lo de Beltrán lived together with the local children as a single family, without discrimination, and I could to account as little by little the mentality has been changing in relation to the migrants.

It was an end of primary school courses and the children of my workers who are migrants and come from very poor indigenous communities, were singing in English with local children. I was moved because I felt that something had contributed to that change.

7. What would be your recommendation on the issue of social responsibility for Sinaloa producers?

We must change. Companies to be competitive must work hard and not get around this.

We must do our part, I believe that is the message. More than criticizing or comparing it is important to reflect and do what must be done, for the good of the company and the people who are part of it. Three

How can this change be achieved? Many times, you want to, but you can not; That is where serious government support should be received. Most the time is critical or demonizing the horticulturist, however, sometimes it does not reach since the financial dynamics is very strong.

It is important that employers and the government work together, without asking to give us things; Simply that they support us and thus can improve the condition of the workers.

This is a movement that begins and will continue to grow. Today the consumer is more concerned with knowing where his food comes from, how it is produced, who produces it.

Every time new generations are questioned more and information becomes more virtual in a matter of seconds through social networks, which can have positive or negative repercussions.

8. At what level do you think Sinaloa companies are in terms of social responsibility compared to the companies of their main competitors?

In my opinion it is just as scattered and polarized. We have advanced a lot, we still have some deficiencies, but the progress is enormous.

On the other hand, the system of work in the United States is very different from ours, they work through contractors, they do not have the social responsibility that we are acquiring.

9. Would you like to add something else?

We must work hard and this social responsibility has come to stay. We have to understand this. I think that it is fair.