Oxfam GB :: Oxfam in action - Success stories: Learning from the past in Bolivia

What we do: Campaign for change; Emergency response; Development work; Why we do it

Issues we work on: Climate change; Conflict and natural disasters; Health; Education; Debt and aid; Gender equality; The right to be heard; Global Food Crisis; Trade; Private sector

Where we work: Countries we work in

The impact of our work: In words and pictures; On video

Special features: History of Oxfam; Oxfam myths exposed; Take the Oxfam Quiz; Reshaping our world

Something old, something new

Distant ancestors hold key to tackling modern poverty

Recurring natural disasters keep many people worldwide locked in poverty. Beni, a district of Bolivia prone to alternate flooding and drought is one such place. Oxfam is working with communities here to adapt to nature. And the solution comes from a truly remarkable source – long-forgotten agricultural techniques used by local farmers who lived 3,000 years ago.

Photo: Oxfam

This project was part of Oxfam's rehabilitation programme, an essential part of the 2007 emergency floods response, and funded by the Humanitarian Aid Department of the European Commission (ECHO).

In the field

An introduction to our work in Bolivia

Learn more

Success stories

How we are winning the battle against poverty

Read on

Regular giving

Recurring disasters

In 2007, many people in Beni were badly affected by flooding. Natural disasters are not new or uncommon events. During the rainy season shallow floodwater can cover much of the low-lying land. In the dry season there can be droughts, and raging fires can sweep across the savannah. Poor soil conditions and lack of drainage present additional challenges to local farmers.

Photo: Oxfam

Slash-and-burn

Until recently it was believed that sustainable agriculture supporting a large population wasn't possible here and that conditions were only suitable for hunting and gathering and slash-and-burn agriculture.

Under slash-and-burn the land might be good for three years before production starts to decline and farmers have to move on to a new area of land - cutting down the rainforest.

Photo: Jane Beesley

A stunning discovery

Then archaeological research made a stunning discovery. It was revealed that around 3,000 years ago (pre-Inca) this – and other areas – were densely populated by a highly organised civilisation that carried out vast modifications to the landscape. During this time an agricultural system was developed that coped with the environmental challenges, improved soil fertility and made the land very productive.

Photo: Jane Beesley

A sophisticated system

Today, Oxfam, together with the Kenneth Lee Foundation, is working with the community of Trinidad to replicate this centuries-old technique. The system is actually very sophisticated, producing fertile soil, fish stock, animal fodder and localised drainage through clever water management, nutrient production and organic recycling. It also includes the construction of elevated seedbeds known locally as camellones, to prevent seasonal floodwater washing away seeds and plants.

Photo: Jane Beesley

Improving fertility

Around the raised beds are water channels where a combination of plants and fish produce a fertile environment. The plants are harvested and placed on top of the banks where, after six months, they help produce 10cm of fertile soil.

The fast-growing, indigenous, plants can also be used for animal fodder. The community also gets an additional source of fish. Because water surrounds the beds, irrigation is very easy and once the system is established there is less need for watering.

Photo: Jane Beesley

Winning over the community

Initially the local community was sceptical, "We thought it wouldn't work because we know that the soil is very poor – it's dead here and not good for agriculture," says Rafael Crespo Ortiz. "But with this technology we have learnt that it can be done."

"We even have bucheres [a fish that can live in the mud during the dry season] in the channels so we will have an additional fish stock supply in the community."

Photo: Jane Beesley

A sense of pride

Local farmer Yenny Noza sums up two other common reactions - curiosity and pride:

"We couldn't imagine what it would be like. When we saw it for the first time we became more and more curious. We wanted to know how it worked and when we saw how it worked we saw it was very good. And because it was developed by our ancestors we felt proud because we were recovering something old. It's very nice to be involved in this."

Photo: Jane Beesley

Reaping the benefits

"In the old system we lost a lot of plants and seeds when the floods came," explains Yenny. "Then we had to wait for the water to go down before we could start replanting. But now the plants don't get covered with water when the flood comes. So we can still harvest and then we can immediately sow seeds again."

Photo: Jane Beesley

Future expansion

Currently, the elevated seedbed project is the only project of its kind, though Oxfam plans to begin similar work with two other communities in 2008. Any lessons learnt will be shared in Bolivia and other countries facing similar challenges.

This system offers an alternative to cutting down the rain forest. And, according to Oscar Saavedra of the Kenneth Lee Institute, "it also creates a balance between the dry and wet seasons, enabling people to live with the process of nature rather than challenging it."

Photo: Jane Beesley