"Those institutions that bring their work here are going to work in vain!" This sentiment was echoed by farmers at a community meeting in the small rural town of Cauchititiri on Bolivia's Altiplano. The farmers were skeptical of yet another organization's ability to "help" them. With negative past experiences of other rural development programs fresh in their minds, many farmers in the community declined to participate in SID's project.
Don Edmundo Flores was just the opposite. When he found out that his community would be included in SID's project he enthusiastically signed up to participate. He had heard about SID's work in the neighboring municipality of Sica Sica and thought that his community could also benefit from learning better farming practices. At the community meeting Don Edmundo, along with some others, voiced support for SID's project because they had faith that it would benefit their community. The farmers were also curious about the inclusion of contests and prizes, which were elements not found in other projects that previously served their community.
Don Edmundo and his wife maintain their dairy farm in order to provide for their 7 children. After meeting at a community party when Don Edmundo was 20 and Doņa Sandalia was 16 they decided to get married. Doņa Sandalia moved to Don Edmundo's family farm in the community of Cauchititiri. Though they were experienced farmers, their farm barely provided enough income to support their family. The cold, semi-arid climate on the Altiplano impeded their efforts to produce higher quantities of milk. The cows slept unsheltered in the cold causing their milk-laden udders to burst and become sick with mastitis. The quality of land also posed a problem. The infertile eroded pastures could no longer sustain growth, leaving their livestock with little to no plants or grasses for feed. Their 8 malnourished cows remained gaunt with their best cow only producing less than 10 liters of milk per day. The Flores family, like many others in the community, worked hard but was unable to maximize the potential of their two biggest assets: their land and livestock.
Despite the hesitation of some community members, a group of interested farmers, including Don Edmundo and his wife Doņa Sandalia, began participating in the project. The first phase of the project included community discussions. The farmers separated into groups and selected farming practices that would best increase their productivity and income. Then, for each practice selected there would be a competition against farmers in neighboring communities to see which community produced the best results. Throughout the competitions the farmers would receive support and technical assistance from SID-sponsored agronomists and paid part-time skilled farmers called kamanas. Additionally, two skilled farmers (one male and one female) were selected from the community to volunteer additional assistance and complement the work of the agronomists and kamanas. These male and female community volunteers were called irpiris.
Don Edmundo and Doņa Sandalia Flores illustrate that SID and the community did not work in vain. The Flores and many others took part in various competitions: reclaiming land, digging water infiltration ditches, planting and harvesting native grasses, constructing terraces and building stables for livestock. As a result of these practices, which provided better food and shelter for their animals, the Flores' cows went from producing about 8 liters of milk a day to producing about 20 liters a day. Additionally, their increased production has resulted in a higher income for the family and the ability to buy 6 more cows. Don Edmundo proudly exhibited his new stable made from a special carved stone not found in other communities. He said that when people come from other towns they greatly admired his stable. Both Don Edmundo and Doņa Sandalia agreed that their family had benefited the most from the competition to build better stables.
Don Edmundo and Doņa Sandalia commented that the competitions are a good strategy for mobilizing populations to learn better practices. Doņa Sandalia said that she liked the contests because, "they are a good incentive to work they drive us, motivate us. Someone makes progress and someone else wants to make more progress." Doņa Sandalia said that the whole community celebrates at the end of the competitions and the winners are especially happy about the work they have accomplished. She admitted that at first, the farmers participated because they wanted to win the prizes, but during competitions they began to realize that, "we could win a prize, we could win experience, but most importantly we could have more fodder and milk."
Don Edmundo and Doņa Sandalia pointed out that the prizes they have won in the competitions have also helped increase their productivity and income. Don Edmundo said, "The prizes are great, I am a big supporter. For example, I have won alfalfa seeds and have planted 3 additional hectares. Without competitions it would have taken me a lot of time to be able to do this, or maybe I would never have been able to do it. Also the calf that I won has been helping me a lot. But what is most important about participating in the competitions is to learn, to share with our brothers and sisters in the community, and when we win a prize we feel very happy. It was exciting when other people watched us collect our prizes."
The Flores family highlighted how cooperation and information sharing remained central to their experience. Don Edmundo and Doņa Sandalia liked working with the kamanas and the irpiris. "They are like us during the competitions, they inform us, chat with us, teach us and do demonstrations; they are more well-informed," they said. Don Edmundo added that he had wanted to be an irpiri the following year but the project was ending. Don Edmundo said that he wished that there were more information sharing across municipalities. "Our kamanas should go to other places to learn other experiences to teach to us. We only have exchanged experiences with communities and families in our municipality. We would have liked to go farther, like to the valleys to learn about other experiences." Don Edmundo highlighted the fact that many community members within the municipality have traveled to their community to marvel at the progress they have made in milk production and the reclamation of farmland. Don Edmundo said, "I hope that our experience has served them well. We too have learned something from what they have told us."
Another integral feature of the project was the equal participation of men and women. Don Edmundo said, "Our women always have been working at our side, they have participated in the meetings. When we used to do the community plan, for example in the construction of ditches, the women and children were working equally, meter for meter." Doņa Sandalia added, "When Edmundo did not have time for community work, I was going to go work alone. Also when our husbands were working in Ayni we (the women) cooked for everyone. Before, women did not participate very much, but now we all participate equally, women, men and our kids." The community also decided that when choosing the judges for the competitions they would select women and men equally.
Don Edmundo and Doņa Sandalia have been farmers all of their lives. They have only completed the equivalent of a middle school education and primary education, respectively. Though they themselves have always lived and worked on the land, when asked what they wish for their family, they reply that they want their children to have an education because it is the only way to attain a better life. Don Edmundo said, with much conviction, that he will greatly help his sons and daughters so that they can attend school. Currently, their 18-year-old son is working in Brazil with friends of the family. Their 17-year-old son is studying in the nearby town of Patacamaya. Their 16 year old, her husband and child live and work with Don Edmundo and Doņa Sandalia. Their other children are six, five, four and two; when they are old enough they will attend the local school.
Now that SID's project is officially finished, do the community members continue to use their newly learned farming strategies? According to Don Edmundo, "All that we have done we continue doing and you can see it yourself in the community. The only practice that we are not doing right now is the infiltration ditches because the Aynoca (designated community land for crop rotations) are far away." Don Edmundo already has plans for his own farm, "I am going to build another stable and I am going to plant more alfalfa because I have a lot of livestock (14 cows)."
When talking to the Flores family it is clear that they are both excited and proud of their accomplishments. Their alfalfa fields are more valuable. Their cows are worth more because they produce more milk and when they sell a calf they receive a better price than before. Now Doņa Sandalia makes cheese and they sell it far away in the valley region. Don Edmundo says that the project "has shown them a new way of working in the countryside, where we can see clearly the results in our soils, pastures and principally in our livestock. We have already seen the improvement in our family savings." But what is most important, said Don Edmundo, "is that we think differently. This is what we are going to leave for our children."
