Benefits for winegrowers of diversified farming in the high valleys of southern Bolivia

Abstract

In southern Bolivia, smallholder farms maintain a highly specific traditional agroforestry viticulture. In these farming systems, the various cropping and livestock activities and their interactions with viticulture were identified, the benefits of their diversity to the farm households were assessed, and the most profitable forms of diversity were identified. Surveys and participatory workshops were organized to draw up a typology of farms and evaluate their main potential and limitations. Production of grapes, vegetables, fruits and fodder, animal husbandry, and processing of wine and brandy (singani) coexisted in varying proportions. Two types of farms generated the highest gross income. Type Div (Diversified) exhibited balanced cropping and livestock activities and strong interactions among them, with the highest proportion of fertilizers provided by manure, and animal feed provided by fodder crops and crop residues. Type Proc (Processing) was the most involved in the production of wine and singani, including grapes purchased from other producers. In contrast, type HortiViti (Horticulture and Viticulture) invested more in horticulture and suffered from poor market conditions. Farmers saw the traditional character and diversity of their farming systems as an opportunity, but suffered from competition with high-input farming systems and lack of technical support.