Seventy percent of Bolivians depend on a good
crop for survival. Most of Bolivia’s population is dependent
on the rain, sun, and richness of the earth to sustain them. A typical
Bolivian farmer lives on $200 a year, and a bad harvest means there
will be no food on the table. Communities in the altiplano demonstrate
some of the highest levels of food insecurity in Bolivia. Hence
it is here, in the altiplano, where FHI/Bolivia does the core of
its work. The goal of FHI/Bolivia is to increase rural incomes from
agricultural and livestock related activities for over 75,000 people
in eight food-insecure provinces.  A
number of things affect agricultural income. Isolated communities
with poor access roads make getting products to market difficult.
Overuse and poor soil management leads to smaller and lower quality
crops. A lack of infrastructure leaves products open to blight,
rodents and weather irregularities. A culture clash between the
remote Andean communities, who have preserved their culture throughout
centuries, and the modernized cities where products are sold in
markets, also puts small-scale farmers at a disadvantage. In order
to confront these issues, FHI/Bolivia uses a number of interventions
based on two spheres: (i) increased agricultural production and
productivity; (ii) development of local producer organizations and
viable agribusiness.
Specific Income Generation Interventions:
Technology
Transfer – (Leaders and families) New agricultural
technologies are tested and validated on communal plots, and consequently
the most successful technologies are transferred to the other farmers.
These new technologies result in improvements in the management
of soil fertility, forage management, Integrated Pest Management
(IPM) integral plagues management, (MIP) and livestock health.
Improvement
of Productive Infrastructure and Market Access –
(Churches and leaders) Improvement of rural access roads, development
of irrigation systems, greenhouses, grain storage facilities and
silos, processing centers, sheepfolds and stables. The aim is for
the churches to get actively involved in the implementation of these
projects.
Technical
Assistance for Agro-business and Marketing Administration
– (Families) Assistance to small-scale farming families to
develop a vision of commercial production of agricultural and livestock
products, based on market demand. Convert local subsistence agriculture
practices into sustainable and competitive businesses. Develop ‘value
chains’ through strategic alliances with other organizations
and firms within and without the targeted rural areas.
Training
– (Families and leaders) The systematic training of farmers
in technical agricultural issues, while incorporating biblical principles
and values. Leaders of communal and producer organizations are trained
in administration, leadership and the Development Ethic.
Organization
– (Leaders and families) The creation or consolidation of
producer organizations that can conduct agricultural production
in an associated and mutually cooperative manner is sought, in a
way that the promotes the collective welfare of people and not solely
of individual farmers.
Program
Indicators
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