Local thinking

Building the base of the seed dryer/cob oven

Paperng the sand-filled interior of the oven

Spent a couple of days at a farm on the coast, on a nature reserve owned by George and Christine, a couple from Peru who moved from the city to live close to the land, to help organize associations for conservation and organic production, and to set an example for others in how to manage the land more sustainably.

Arrived during the construction of an innovative seed and fruit dryer made out of cob - mixed sand, clay and fiber - and using a passive solar collector and bread oven (depending on the weather) to dry the seeds or fruit (or coffee or cacao beans). Since none of the raw crops generate much income, appropriate technology such as this could add value to products and be enable more economical production. Since some fruits are harvested only during a short season each year, preserving fruits in this way could make a greater diversity of foods available (e.g. mangoes) year round.

Another way to increase income could be to form associations to eliminate some of the distribution costs from farm to market. For example, by joining together, individual farmers may be able to rent a truck themselves to transport produce to market rather than each paying individually to a distributor to pick up and deliver the produce. Also, there may be tax breaks, as well as agricultural benefits, for sustainably managing and obtaining protected status for agroforesty lands.

The dominant economic model promotes exportation and mass production that benefits a few at the expense of many and is damaging to communities and the environment. Rural communities buy Cokes and chips that are mass produced somewhere else and sell bananas and pineapples into the commodity market. Although fairly traded products like cacao could play a role, I think from it's generally more beneficial to strengthen the local economy and allow communities to become more self-sufficient.

It's very challenging to even incrementally improve the income of families in the rural areas with agricultural products. However, it seems that with more awareness, appropriate training and reliance on locally available materials and products, the need for income could be reduced and by a more nutritious locally-grown diet, some health problems could be averted.

written by  cjones on February 14, 2008 from Quito, Ecuador
from the travel blog: so-journ
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