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Project information
»Funding dates
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Original grant (2005-2009)
Year 1: 5/1/2005-4/30/2006
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Year 2: 5/1/2006-4/30/2007
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Year 3: 5/1/2007-4/30/2008
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Year 4: 5/1/2008-4/30/2009
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Planting tarwi, which is
done in a 'reduced tillage scheme.' |
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»The problem
Northern Potosí is one of the poorest parts of Bolivia,
which is one of the least-developed countries in South America.
The highland climate and terrain are harsh. Communities are
geographically, socially, and economically isolated and without
government support. Subsistence agriculture is the major source
of livelihood, but food security is threatened by soil management
practices that have become unsustainable.
The increased use of legume crops offers a set of potential
benefits to the impoverished farmers of Northern Potosí.
The benefits include improved agricultural productivity and
sustainability, better income and livelihoods, and improved
nutrition. Legumes contribute to soil fertility through biological
nitrogen fixation and erosion prevention, which are the two
most important locally feasible strategies for improving soil
fertility. In association with cereal and forage grasses,
legumes can provide both these benefits in the form of green
manure/cover crops, live barriers, managed fallows using forages,
and greater use of grain legumes in the crop rotation. Furthermore,
legume forages can improve animal productivity, and legume
grains commonly contain high quality fat and protein for improving
human nutrition and health.
The total project area will include 45 communities with more
than 5,175 inhabitants, covering three elevation zones. The
project seeks to address three interrelated challenges: high
levels of extreme poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition;
declining soil fertility and agricultural productivity; and
lack of institutional mechanisms which link local farmers
with appropriate technical and other support to address these
needs.
»The approach
Year 2 workplan: 
English
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Español
The project team includes a diverse group of organizations
with a complementary range of expertise and skills in science
and practice of sustainable agricultural development. The
proposed activities include a good blend of research and development.
The project will benefit from other activities in the World
Neighbors program, including those addressing health issues.
Strategies will be identified that, when added to increased
crop yields, allow families to achieve food security through
improved utilization of legumes in household diets. Studies
show that agricultural projects had better food security impacts
when they invested in human capital through nutrition education
in addition to raising crop yields.
The project will empower farmers as researchers by training
members of the communities as farmer trainers ("promotores")
and members of women's groups ("clubes de madre").
World Neighbors has a great deal of experience with this approach,
which they have used successfully in their agriculture and
health work in the region.
The project will strengthen institutional networks of farmers,
local organizations, and research entities. The aim is to
produce a sustainable team that will continue to respond to
evolving local needs in agricultural production and food security
after the project timeframe.
»The goal
1. To enable local actors to identify options for expanding
the role of green manures, forages, and grain legumes in crop
rotations that positively impact soil health and family productive
capacity. With community field trials, they hope to identify
two or more species of green manures and forages, and two
or more varieties of legume grain crops that are adapted to
the area.
2. To build local capacity of agricultural innovation that
enhances soil health and contributes to more sustainable and
productive food systems. Specifically, this includes the strengthening
of community-based organizations as designers and implementers
of local development processes for food security.
3. To improve maternal and child nutrition with a number of
activities that build on gains in crop productivity from participatory
research on legumes in crop rotation.
»Back to top
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Investigators
»Partner institutions
- Vecinos Mundiales,
Bolivia
- Honorable Alcaldia Municipal de Sacaca, Bolivia
- Universidad
Nacional Siglo XX, Bolivia
- Centro de Investigaciones Fitoecogeneticas de Pairumani
(CIFP), Bolivia
- Proyecto
Laderas (PROLADE-UMSS), Bolivia
- Universidad
Mayor San Simón (UMSS), Bolivia
- Sub-alcaldia de Challa Kasa, Bolivia
- Programa para el Desarollo Integrado del Norte de Potosí
(PRODINPO), Bolivia
- Centro
de Investigación de Forrajes (CIF), Bolivia
- Sub-alcaldia de Sak'ani, Bolivia
- Honorable Alcaldia Municipal de San Pedro de Buena Vista,
Bolivia
- Honorable Alcaldia Municipal de Acasio, Bolivia
- Cornell
University, USA
»Investigators at Vecinos
Mundiales (*=project leader)
Ing. Humberto Beingolea*
»Investigators at Honorable
Alcaldia Municipal de Sacaca
Hon. Alcalde Ramiro Aguilar
»Investigators at Universidad
Nacional Siglo XX
Ing. David Astroña
»Investigators at CIFP
Dr. Gonzalo Avila
»Investigators at PROLADE-UMSS
Ing. Emigdio Cespedes
»Investigators at UMSS
Ing. Hermógenes Espinoza
»Investigators at Sub-alcaldia
de Challa Kasa
Hon. Sub-alcalde Victor Fabrica
»Investigators at PRODINPO
Sr. Luis Herrera
»Investigators at CIF
Ing. Ruddy Meneses
»Investigators at Sub-alcaldia
de Sak'ani
Hon. Sub-alcalde Leonardo Quispe
»Investigators at Honorable
Alcaldia Municipal de San Pedro de Buena Vista
Hon. Alcalde Silvestre Ojeda
»Investigators at Honorable
Alcaldia Municipal de Acasio
Hon. Alcalde Felix Vale
»Investigators at Cornell
University
Steven Vanek
»Back to top
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Annual progress reports
Click the links below for annual progress reports.
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»Original grant
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Year 1 (5/2005-4/2006)
English
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Español
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Year 2 (5/2006-4/2007)
English
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Year 3 (5/2007-4/2008)
Due 5/31/2008
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Year 4 (5/2008-4/2009)
Due 5/31/2009
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»Back to top
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Publications
None listed as of
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»Back to top
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