Demand and supply side changes in the Santa Cruz, Bolivia, milk sector 1985 – 2002: impact on small-scale producers and poor consumers

Abstract

During the past three decades worldwide dairy policies have been implemented to promote the consumption of milk and milk products in urban areas and the production from rural areas close to big cities (Alderman et al ., 1987). Bolivia and the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra have been influenced by these worldwide directives and this current study examines the impact of policies on the demand and supply side of the sector, but with particular emphasis on smallholder milk producers and poor urban consumers. The current research is part of a multi-country study on the supply, demand and impact of dairy and other policies over a 10 to 15 year period (1985 to 2000) of the milk sectors of Santa Cruz, Bolivia; Nairobi, Kenya; and Kathmandu, Nepal.