Bolivia Activates $24.6 Million to Boost 17,500 Farming Families

Bolivia's government has launched the Agrosustentar program, backed by $24.6 million in financing, aimed at bolstering 17,500 small-scale farming families across 24 rural municipalities. The initiative, funded by the United Nations' International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), seeks to enhance agricultural production while simultaneously addressing the critical challenges of climate change adaptation and market access.

The program will concentrate its efforts on regions identified as vulnerable to climate change impacts. It will support the cultivation of essential crops such as corn, rice, peanuts, beans, cacao, bananas, plantains, and pineapples, which are vital for the food security and economy of numerous families. Key objectives include diversifying production across 18,000 hectares and ensuring access to approximately 2,000 tons of certified seeds.

A significant focus of Agrosustentar is to move beyond mere production increases and tackle the persistent issue of low incomes for small producers. The program plans to establish 230 ventures to strengthen post-harvest infrastructure and commercialization strategies. This includes organizing 12 agricultural fairs, developing seven commercialization networks, and creating three market spaces to help farmers better sell their produce.

President Rodrigo Paz emphasized that the project's scope extends to improving commercialization conditions and opening avenues for Bolivian products in both domestic and international markets. The program also incorporates training and technical assistance, aiming to certify producer organizations and train rural technicians and farmers. A fourth component will oversee program administration, monitoring, and evaluation, incorporating environmental, social, and climate management tools to measure outcomes.