Bolivia shares with Paraguay the distinction of being one of South America's two large landlocked countries. Its area of 1,098,500 Square kilometers is 30 times greater than Taiwan's, while its population of 5.5 million is only a third as large. Bolivia is a land of high mountains whose population is 70 percent made up of the original Indian inhabitants. People of Spanish blood make up 25 percent, and the rest consists of people of other European origins.
Because of its mountainous topography, large area and small population, Bolivia has been hampered in its development efforts. Per capita income in 1980 stood at US$491, second lowest in Latin America. Agriculture is not well advanced and the main source of income is mining, followed by exports of oil and gas. Tin is the main metal mined, though there are substantial deposits of zinc, antimony, silver, and gold.
Besides its economic backwardness, Bolivia has also been plagued with a history of inept and short-lived governments. Since it gained independence from Spain in 1825, there have been more than 190 different regimes, a record which no other country can match.
In the light of Bolivia's geography and history, the success of the Republic of China's agricultural mission is quite remarkable. In 1971 the two countries signed an agreement on economic cooperation, and the following year Chinese technicians arrived in Bolivia to start work.
The original mission was comprised of five technicians who concentrated on the development of the tea industry, growing soybeans and peanuts, and raising pigs. In 1973, Bolivia asked for the program to be expanded to include pineapples and rice, and in 1974 cotton farming was also added, making a total of seven areas of concentration, handled by 14 technicians. The organization was also improved and nine small groups were sent to different areas within Bolivia to conduct projects.
In 1978, in order to simplify operations and concentrate manpower where it was most needed, the pig breeding and cotton growing projects were ended. In 1979, the Bolivians requested a vegetable research mission be set up in Beni. At present there are five projects being carried out: Edible oil production, and rice, vegetable, pine apple, and tea cultivation.
A brief survey of current projects shows that Chinese-Bolivian cooperation is moving along smoothly and successfully.
TEA: Since it was established nine years ago, the tea program has put two-step tea production operations into effect in Mapiri and Alto-Beni in La Paz province, and Chapare in Cochabamba province. In each area 200 hectares are planned for tea growing, plus a factory for processing. The present objectives are to meet the needs of Bolivia's domestic market.
The Mapiri experimental farm originally ran into problems because of inappropriate types of tea, poor transportation, and a lack of leadership. These problems have all been corrected and the farm now produces a British style tea which is compared favorably with Sri Lankan types. A model factory has been set up to demonstrate theory, quality control, and processing.
Alto-Beni had no history of tea growing, and only ten hectares were set aside. Gradually, sapling tea bushes have been introduced from Taiwan and the project now includes 150 hectares of land and a factory. At the Chapare farm, consisting of 50 hectares and a model factory, mechanized tea growing and production is demonstrated.
Until recently, Bolivians had to as rely on imports, but now domestically produced tea is both high in quality and low in price, and has been well received by consumers.
EDIBLE OILS: This project is being carried out in conjunction with the Bolivian government's Gran Chaco oil crop development project in the south. Its objective is to produce the necessary raw materials for the large-scale oil processing plant set up in the area. The main emphasis is on soybeans with peanuts as a supplement, although other oil producing plants are being grown. The factory, established in 1977, uses 300 metric tons of raw materials per day, calling for the development of 50,000 hectares of land. The ROC's technicians have three objectives: to experiment with all types of plants to find those which are most suitable; to instruct people in Villa Montes on irrigation methods; and to help set up an experimental farm in Yuciba.
RICE: A model farm was set up in the Beni provincial capital of Trinidad in 1977. Later, other farms were set up in Suarez, Villa Banzer, Bermeo, and Casarabe. Because of the success of these projects, the Bolivian government has set up another in San Borja on the Beni-La Paz highway to meet the needs of the capital, La Paz.
The people of Beni province have traditionally been cattle breeders and all rice was imported from Brazil. Because of transport difficulties, the price was always high. But now a high quality hybrid rice is grown there and a factory and storehouse have been built. More than 600 metric tons are grown a year and because of the favorable climate, there is no foreseeable limit to rice production in Beni.
VEGETABLES: Beni province also lacked vegetables, and has historically relied on airlifted supplies. Currently projects are under way to raise tomatoes, sweet peppers, cucumbers, onions, carrots, and spinach to meet local needs. As a result of this project the pressure on the provincial capital to find outside sources of vegetables has been reduced.
PINEAPPLES: In 1973, 500 pineapple plants were brought from Taiwan to Santa Cruz to begin a production project with a goal of exporting fresh pineapples to Argentina. The results of the Saavedra experimental farm in the first year were excellent, and in 1974, the Bolivian government bought 100,000 of the same strain of pineapple plants from Brazil. This project has been successful, and with the money earned from exports, new farms have been started. Pineapples are now a promising foreign exchange earner.
Agricultural technical cooperation between the Republic of China and Bolivia has not only brought material benefits, but also strengthened friendship between the two countries.
[Picture Caption]
1) An Indian herding sheep on an Andean plateau. 2) Lake Titicaca. 3) The road leading to the tea fields. 4) A road during the rainy season. 5) Before tea fields can be established, roads must be built. 6) The head of the ROC mission on an inspection tour.
1) Every year tea seeds are sent from Taiwan for cultivation. 2) Clearing forests to make way for tea. 3) Tea plants before transplanting. 4) Tea is planted high in the mountains. 5) Picking tea leaves. 6) The llama, native to Bolivia, yields wool which is light yet warm.
1) The head of the ROC mission explains how to pick tea. 2) Taste-testing. 3) A stage in tea processing. 4) Packaged tea. 5) Tea processing factory employees. 6) A lake more than 4000 meters above sea level.
1) A technical discussion on pineapple cultivation. 2) Pineapple fields are large, and horses are used to conduct inspections. 3) Ripe pineapple. 4) Bolivian market 5) An Indian woman doing her wash at the well.
1) A large soybean field. 2,3) An experimental soybean farm. 4) Radishes raised by the agricultural mission sell well in the market. 5). Indians live in these adobe houses.
The road leading to the tea fields.
A road during the rainy season.
Before tea fields can be established, roads must be built.
The head of the ROC mission on an inspection tour.
Every year tea seeds are sent from Taiwan for cultivation.
Clearing forests to make way for tea.
Tea plants before transplanting.
Tea is planted high in the mountains.
The llama, native to Bolivia, yields wool which is light yet warm.
The head of the ROC mission explains how to pick tea.
A stage in tea processing.
Tea processing factory employees.
A lake more than 4000 meters above sea level.
A technical discussion on pineapple cultivation.
Pineapple fields are large, and horses are used to conduct inspections.
An Indian woman doing her wash at the well.
An experimental soybean farm.
An experimental soybean farm.
Radishes raised by the agricultural mission sell well in the market.
Indians live in these adobe houses.
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