One could expect that, on the occasion of World Food Day, the Bolivian press would bring up the most burning issues in the area of food and agriculture for Bolivia. So let’s take a look at the press coverage.
While the
reports took up declarations from the government and FAO, there was unusual
silence about statements from civil society organisations, which probably
indicates that there were no significant statements made from that side.
On the
occasion of World Food Day, the Bolivian government ratified the “Law of Mother
Earth and Integral Development for the Good Life” (Ley de la Madre Tierra y
Desarrollo Integral para Vivir Bien). Two central objectives of this law are to
counteract the concentration of land in the hands of few, and to ban
genetically modified crops from Bolivia (Durán, 17 October 2012).
As Durán
(17 October 2012) comments, these objectives stand in contrast with current
government policies. National food security is ensured in close cooperation
with private agricultural businesses, and 70 % of Bolivian soy production stems
from genetically modified seeds (ibid.). Also, within the “Agrarian, Productive
and Communitarian Revolution” proclaimed by the government in mid 2011, a
central project is the construction of fertilizer plants (ibid.).
While Durán
suggests that the objectives of the new agricultural law are simply out of place
since private property and genetically modified seeds are necessary to
establish food security, an observer more sympathetic to the ideas presented by
the government at least has to say: Implementing the new law will require a
full turnaround in government policies.
The
government itself, however, seems to be happy on the occasion of World Food
Day. As the vice-minister of Rural Development states, the production of food
has increased during 2012, thus ensuring “food security with sovereignty” (El
Diario, 17 October 2012). For him, this is due to the national projects
supporting particularly small-scale farmers (ibid.). At the same time, the
minister mentions that the most important agricultural products have been sugar
cane and soya – which are produced in large-scale cultivations by
agribusinesses (Quispe, 16 October 2012).
This
contradiction brings out an actual lack of support for small-scale farmers, a
conclusion that is confirmed by statements of the La Paz office of the Food and
Agricultural Organisation FAO on the occasion of World Food Day. FAO will be
supporting small-scale producers in the production and marketing of ecological products,
in order to insert these farmers better in the market (ABI, 15 October 2012).
The organisation also stated the necessity to create a programme of family
subsidies in order to ensure the right to food (Quispe, 16 October 2012). The
percentage of Bolivians suffering from hunger has lowered slightly, but still stands
at 24 % of the population (ibid.). The population most affected by food
insecurity are small-scale farmers (ibid.). Thus, in line with its ideology and
the new agricultural law, the government will have to think seriously about
support for small-scale farmers.
It seems,
however, that the government is busy with a different topic. On World Food Day,
a Chinese online newspaper reminded us that 2013 will be the international year
of Quinua (people daily, 17 October 2012). During this year, Bolivian president
Evo Morales and FAO will be promoting the nutritional advantages of the Andean
grain and its potential to contribute to world food security (ibid.).
Worldwide,
Bolivia is the main exporter of Quinua (ibid.), and the grain is produced in
the harsh highlands by small-scale farmers. So this will be an issue to watch.
Because while Quinua will be promoted as the miracle grain to feed the world,
small farmers in the Bolivian highlands might give away their source of
subsistence for export, be replaced by agribusinesses – or find a sustainable
way to use their miracle grain. But this will only happen if they are
accompanied by smart and consistent government policies.
REFERENCES
Durán, G.
P. (17 October 2012). Contradictórias políticas de gobierno. Jornada. Retrieved from http://www.jornadanet.com/Opinion/n.php?a=3263
El Diario
(17 October 2012). Bolivia garantizó la
seguridad alimentaria durante este año. Retrieved from: http://www.fmbolivia.com.bo/noticia99995-bolivia-garantizo-la-seguridad-alimentaria-durante-este-ano.html
Quispe, A. (16
October 2012). FAO
plantea subsidio para garantizar la alimentación. La Razón. Retrieved
from: http://www.la-razon.com/economia/FAO-plantea-subsidio-garantizar-alimentacion_0_1706829345.html
ABI (15
October 2012). FAO apoya a más de 8.000
productores ecológicos para reducir el hambre y la pobreza. Retrieved from: http://www.fmbolivia.com.bo/noticia99859-fao-apoya-a-mas-de-8000-productores-ecologicos-para-reducir-el-hambre-y-la-pobreza.html
People
Daily (17 October 2012). Especial:
Bolivia y FAO promoverán bondades de Quinua desde la ONU. Retrieved from: http://spanish.peopledaily.com.cn/31617/7979815.html
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