Despite its huge natural resources, Bolivia is a country which is marked by social and economic inequality. It is the poorest country in Latin America, with two thirds of the population, mostly country people, living in situations of extreme poverty. Food-producing farming has long been abandoned, due to policies of structural adjustment which favour an agriculture based on products for export. In the east of the country, where commercial farming is being developed, there are numerous grants available, whereas in the Altiplano, family subsistence farming is neglected. Furthermore, the general rise in food prices has had dramatic consequences for the poorer communities. Not producing enough to feed themselves, they depend on imported food which they can no longer afford to buy.
In July 2007, in a report on the world food situation, the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) sounded the alarm for a major risk of food shortages. Certainly, Evo Morales’ government, in power since 2005, has finally recognized the rights of indigenous populations, and has initiated profound reforms in favour of the poorest communities, most notably land reform and heightened public control of natural resources. Faced however with opposition from the Senate, these reforms are often blocked and remain insufficient in response to the vital needs of rural populations. Country organizations have a vital role to play in improving the living conditions of rural communities, by proposing collective and sustainable solutions, safeguarding these communities from food shortages and guaranteeing them a stable source of income.

Village communities with CIOEC (coordination of rural economy organisations) have designed two projects to improve peasant community living conditions. Kampesino enables these communities not only to develop local sales for their produce, but also to process this produce. Tusoco ensures complementary sources of income, by developing equitable community tourism, which highlights local culture and the environment. Welcoming visitors to these communities is a way for peasants to share their everyday lives. Through its commitment to rural development, Frère des Hommes wishes to support the Bolivian peasantry.

1. KAMPESINO : processing and enhancing the value of farm produce
Rural families are extremely poor, and thus do not have the means to preserve, stock, nor process their harvests, which makes sales very difficult. One of the main points of this project is to reinforce the local processing of farm produce and to support the sale of these processed products in the Kampesino shop in Cochabamba, selling more and better. The project will also allow producers to group together to negotiate sales prices and ensure the promotion of their products, thus guaranteeing the future of rural cooperatives. Our aim is to reduce as much as possible the number of intermediaries between producers and consumers, by selling directly to markets, businesses and schools. This not only increases income for family farmers, it also enables them to provide food for the local community.

2. TUSOCO : developing new sources of income
Often faced with difficult weather conditions, peasant farmers cannot always be sure of a good harvest. Our aim is to help village communities to group together to create supplementary income, by developing a community tourism based on local culture and a respect for the environment. With this aim, we propose to train local peasants in the welcoming and accomodation of tourists, by organizing workshops to train guides and interpreters. We also propose training in commercial, accounting and administrative management. Thanks to Tusoco, village communities will be able to negotiate with tour operators and participate in the promotion of local craftwork. Rural communities can thus play a role in guaranteeing financial stability and in improving living conditions.