Evolución del sistema de aynuqa durante una década en cuatro comunidades del Altiplano boliviano
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Ecología en Bolivia
Abstract
Para responder a interrogantes del futuro del sistema de cultivo con papa y largo descanso, que es manejado por la comunidad en el llamado sistema de aynuqa, analizamos los cambios ocurridos entre 1987 y 2000 de cuatro comunidades del Altiplano norte y central de Bolivia. Para ello, comparamos dos gestiones agrícolas, actualizando en el 2000 mapas previamente elaborados. Encontramos dos tendencias coexistentes: 1) el cambio de algunas aynuqas a zonas de cultivo intensivo con producción de forrajes y 2) la disminución del área cultivada en aynuqa. La cercanía a carreteras, ferias regionales y a la ciudad de La Paz no es el único motor de intensificación; también influyen en este proceso la cercanía a viviendas y el potencial del medio (disponibilidad de agua, productividad de suelos y posibilidad de remoción con tractor). En las cuatro comunidades, algunas parcelas han sido abandonadas en aynuqas cultivadas o se ha destinado al pastoreo la totalidad de sectores más alejados de las viviendas. Esta disminución del área cultivada responde a la decisión del agricultor en ubicar sus escasos medios de producción (mano de obra y capital) en sectores de mayor productividad y cercanos a viviendas. Las oportunidades del mercado (ganado en pie, lácteos y hortalizas) permiten obtener mayores ingresos en zonas de cultivo intensivo. Las comunidades combinan entonces zonas intensificadas y otras extensificadas, manteniendo las normas del sistema de aynuqa, a excepción de las que se encuentran más cercanas a la ciudad de La Paz.
In order to know about the future of the long fallow - potato cropping system, managed by the community and locally known as the aynuqa system, we have analyzed the changes of the aynuqa system between 1987 and 2000 in four communities located in northern and central zones of the Bolivian high plain. We have compared two dates of land use evaluation by updating in 2000 maps previously elaborated. The evolution of the aynuqa system shows two related trends: 1) the partial change of the aynuqas to intensive cropping zones, with emphasis on forage, and 2) the reduction of the aynuqa farming area. The proximity to roads, regional fairs and the La Paz market is not the unique intensification pressure as also the distance to their houses and land potentials (water availability, soil productivity, tractor plowing possibility). In these communities, plots have been left in cultivated aynuqas or the total sectors are placed faraway from houses and then converted into rangelands. This reduction of the cultivated area derives from farmer's decisions to invest their reduced production means (work and capital) into better productive sectors near their houses. Market opportunities (e.g., cattle, milk, cheese, and vegetables) allow better incomes from these intensive cropping areas. The community combines both intensive and extensive zones, maintaining the aynuqa system communal norms, except in communities that are localized near to the city of La Paz.
In order to know about the future of the long fallow - potato cropping system, managed by the community and locally known as the aynuqa system, we have analyzed the changes of the aynuqa system between 1987 and 2000 in four communities located in northern and central zones of the Bolivian high plain. We have compared two dates of land use evaluation by updating in 2000 maps previously elaborated. The evolution of the aynuqa system shows two related trends: 1) the partial change of the aynuqas to intensive cropping zones, with emphasis on forage, and 2) the reduction of the aynuqa farming area. The proximity to roads, regional fairs and the La Paz market is not the unique intensification pressure as also the distance to their houses and land potentials (water availability, soil productivity, tractor plowing possibility). In these communities, plots have been left in cultivated aynuqas or the total sectors are placed faraway from houses and then converted into rangelands. This reduction of the cultivated area derives from farmer's decisions to invest their reduced production means (work and capital) into better productive sectors near their houses. Market opportunities (e.g., cattle, milk, cheese, and vegetables) allow better incomes from these intensive cropping areas. The community combines both intensive and extensive zones, maintaining the aynuqa system communal norms, except in communities that are localized near to the city of La Paz.
Description
Vol. 41, No. 3