This study evaluates, from the perspective of the multifunctionality of agriculture, the peasant agricultural systems surrounding the cultivation of panela cane in five producing municipalities in the department of Cundinamarca (Colombia). To achieve the objectives, a mixed-method approach was used, starting with the definition of a purposive sample of 15 farms located in the municipalities of La Peña, Caparrapí, Útica, Topaipí, and El Peñón, in the provinces of Río Negro and Gualivá. The socioeconomic conditions of the panela cane production systems were characterized and analyzed to understand and guide the sustainable development of this productive system in these territories, as well as its sociocultural impact on peasant families. These municipalities are distinguished by the fact that some receive assistance from the National Federation of Panela Producers, while others do not. However, all municipalities share the same agro-environmental conditions, where the same type of crops is grown. To obtain the results, the study establishes that municipalities with greater institutional presence have higher monetary incomes, whereas those without assistance experience a lower level of monetization. Additionally, factors such as price instability were identified, which increases the risk of losses due to production costs that affect the financial inclusion of peasant economies—without necessarily translating into a better quality of life. Finally, the study highlights the need to address other dimensions of development, enabling more active community participation in decision-making processes related to the development model that should guide rural Colombia.
