Agricultural initiatives focus on family farming in Peru and Bolivia

In Peru, the Chavimochic Special Project (PECH) and the National Institute of Agricultural Innovation (INIA) are working to diversify family farming in La Libertad. Through research and training, they are promoting alternative crops with commercial potential, such as gulupa, aguaymanto, raspberry, and tara. The initiative includes biotechnology efforts, such as producing raspberry plants in vitro, to help small-scale producers access national and international markets.

In Bolivia, Fundación Tierra is calling for a shift in public policy to prioritize family farming and agroecology. Director Juan Pablo Chumacero warned that small-scale producers are losing ground to food imports from neighboring countries like Peru, Argentina, and Chile. He argued that current Bolivian policies favor large-scale agro-industry over local producers and called for comprehensive investment plans to protect domestic food security and support small-scale farmers.