Sustainable Agropastoral Systems on Marginal Lands-Bolivia

IV Other Contributions

The Sociology Project collaborates in this Component with Utah State University. A detail description of our contribution can be found in their section. Some additional information is presented below:

The environment: our aim is to understand and design sustainable production strategies that are economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound.

Agricultural Sustainability: the production systems approach used allows us to look at the Sustainability of the production system and the role of markets in this process.

Contributions to US agriculture: the focus and methods of systems research applied to U.S.

Contributions to the host country: by training researcher in country in on-farm research we are contributing to the development of human capital. This is crucial to any development effort in which peasant agriculture is relevant. Introduction of sociology and economics as disciplines to the design and development of biological research in Bolivia has been integral to our work in IBTA.

Linkages and networking: we have been able to collaborate with several NGOs, such as CIPCA and AIGACAA. We are also collaborating with ORSTOM and IDRC as well as CONDESAN. Details of this collaboration are in previous annual reports.

Gender analysis: our study of gender and nutrition has resulted in an understanding of the important role that sheep play as a source of food and income, as well as economic power of women in the community. This is closely linked to nutrition of children.

Support for free markets: looking at the viability of different economic enterprises we address the issue of information important in the development of markets.

Contribution and compliance with mission objectives: Food security is central to the Bolivia USAID Mission as well as to our Component.

Concern for individuals: Our Component has created enough information about the Communities in which research was conducted. This has enabled member of the community to seek other development projects that are improving the quality of life in San José Llanga.

Support of democracy: food security is one of the basis for democracy and of our research activities.

Humanitarian assistance: see concern for individuals.