Hopeful harvest in Bolivia

Mennonite Central Committee
Friday, 22 June 2001

JUAN RAMOS, Bolivia -- On a sunny May afternoon, MCC workers Patrocinio Garvizu (left), Doug Beane and Cresencia Garcia gathered with a local family to sort beans from the recent harvest. Pictured are Edwin and Maricela Calderon, two of the four children in the family.

Garvizu and Garcia, who live in this isolated mountain community, work with local people to set priorities for agriculture-related projects. They recently completed a water system project, and they promote nutrition through vegetable gardens and chicken production. They also encourage farmers to try to new crops, such as beans.

This family has participated enthusiastically in growing "carioca," the brown beans shown here. The sorting process revealed a successful harvest. The family planned to transport the beans by donkey to the town of Moro Moro, a five-hour walk.

Garvizu and Garcia are from Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Beane is from Garwin, Iowa.

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