paraguay: reviving sustainable agriculture in the los altos mountains
The Green Revolution of the 1970s inflicted many problems on Paraguay’s Los Altos Mountain region. In addition to leaving the soil impoverished, it forced many peasant families to migrate from the land, fuelling an urbanization process that changed the region’s cultural makeup. This migration also eroded the knowledge of sustainable agriculture — a loss which ultimately threatens food sovereignty.
In addition to these socio-economic impacts, many ecosystems vital to supplying clean water have been destroyed due to human actions. Unsustainable agricultural practices also pollute the water with toxic agrochemicals, and several communities have been left with no access to water. Deforestation and real estate speculation act to further displace peasants from their communities.
Recognizing the region’s historical biodiversity and importance as a water source for Central Paraguay, Friends of the Earth Paraguay/SOBREVIVENCIA proposed sustainable agriculture and non-agriculture production projects.
what happened: FoE Paraguay aimed to accomplish this in part by promoting fair trade through the small company ONDIE. Overall, 12 rural communities participated and benefited from sustainable agriculture and non-agriculture production. This production reached almost 60 families in the Los Altos Mountains region. Any surplus production not needed for domestic consumption was channelled into external commercialization, both inside the community and through the ONDIE initiative.
what is changing: In terms of community work, this programme succeeded in introducing concepts, knowledge, techniques and practise of sustainable agriculture and non-agriculture production. The concepts of fair trade and worker solidarity were also introduced.
Through community participation in capacity-building workshops we also succeeded in reviving recognition of the value of native seeds in family farming. The peasants who participated regained healthy and nourishing diets for their families, and learned new and traditional handicraft techniques. The work of artisans was given a boost by promoting useful and decorative craftworks. Fair and equitable local and national markets for their products were created.
what we learned: This work has strengthened and developed FoE Paraguay’s capacity, and has led to significant support for the organization's sustainability goals. It also strengthened networks of agricultural and non-agricultural producers, and consumers, through the introduction of concepts such as fair trade, sustainable commercialization of products, and the use of tools for the sustainable management of communities. In terms of the society as a whole, these networks advocated laws to promote organic production and regulation on the use of toxic agrochemicals.
with thanks to our funders: the dutch ministry of foreign affairs
