AMERICA/BOLIVIA - Food security and development in 60 farming communities in Bolivia

Madrid (Agenzia Fides) - The area of Valle Central de Tarija, Bolivia, is benefiting from the "Proyecto de Seguridad Alimentaria y Desarrollo Económico de 60 comunidades campesinas,” being sponsored by IICCA (Instituto de Investigación y Capacitación Campesina) with the support of the Catholic NGO of volunteers “Manos Unidas.” Thanks to the project, which involves 1,200 families in the area, there have been 50 dams and 20 artificial lakes designed to collect about 500,000 cubic meters of water, and the 60 existing lagoons have also been improved. A further 26 hectares of marginal land are under afforestation and the people have begun cultivation of tomatoes, strawberries and beans, in another 50 hectares, facilitating both self-consumption and sale of surplus food. Thanks to these and other measures being taken, the farmers of Tarija have slowed down the process of migration to Argentina in search of work. In addition, new crops such as vegetables, fish, strawberries, and honey are improving their diet, and a fairer market of surplus is making headway. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 14/10/2010)