Through the explosion of the international demand, quinoa now seriously threatens Bolivia, the main production’s country. Thus, with a high demand, prices rises: today it’s twice the price from 2006. Bolivians can not afford it anymore and the environmental problems its intensive farming provok concerns among officials.
Quinoa was originally farmed on a very specific area in Bolivia : between 3700 and 6000 meters. It has been farmed up there for 7000 years. This farming is quite safe and does not suffer from any environmental difficulty except caterpillars, whixh led Indians to hunt butterflies several nights a year.
Neithertheless, in the 1960s, with development aid’s funds, mechanization led to a more intensive farming of the seed in lower plains. Efforts focused on the production rather than on marketing according to Javier Quisbert, an official from the Bolivian ministry of Earth.
Then the intensive production began to ravage the country as the farming fronteer moved forward. If production increases, ecological problems appears such as erosion. The social organisation of local Indians is also disrupted : as they focused on farming, they let other traditionnal works down.
Thus, the success of the seed caused migrations,a potentially dangerous choice for local inhabitants which deprives them from other economic resources. Moreover, farmers seldom own earth. Owners actually live in cities and control production.
With the increasing demand for biological or fair trade quinoa, environmental management became impossible in the country, creating massive damages to local areas. Bolivian officials currently try to reform certifications to solve the problem.
Still, Bolivians can not afford quinoa anymore and have to buy American products, which are far cheaper. Another weird consequence of globalisation.
Thomas PRADO for www.buddhachannel.tv
