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Bolivia
Currently on the second year of activities in Bolivia (August 2000-July
2001), a profile of potential users is being developed using as a data base a
household survey that elicits information on household production strategies,
income generation activities and access to forecast information for
agricultural activities. Data was
collected at the end of 1999 and 2000.
The first data set was analyzed, and economic portfolios with varying
degrees of vulnerability to drought were identified. Currently data on the second year is being analyzed to compare
changes in livelihood strategies through time and by groups of families.
Outputs from this research activity are listed in the list of publications. Some are available on line Specific articles can be requested from ValdiviaC@missouri.edu.
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Peru
Research in a second site, following the same theoretical framework
developed for the Altiplano started in September of 2000. Specific hypothesis were developed for this
research site. A first questionnaire on
household resources, production consumption and income generating activities
elicited information of 102 families for the 1999-2000 agricultural
calendar. The survey was applied
between October 2000 and February of 2001.
Access to information and participation and networks were included in
the survey, as well as households perceptions of the El Niño Event of
1997-98. The data is currently being
processed to determine if a typology of household livelihood strategies (On line publications) similar to the one
constructed for the Bolivian Altiplano can be developed with cluster
analysis. An important question that
will be addressed in Peru is the role of transactions costs and networks in
accessing information.
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Bolivia
The second year of research in Bolivia concentrates on local forecasts
and identifying the type of information that producers regard as useful for
household agricultural and economic decisions.
An household activities and agricultural calendar that focuses on timing
(local indicators and signals for decisions) and the windows of opportunity for
these decisions is being constructed. A
study of networks and diffusion of local forecasts in the community and between
the community and outside institutions is underway. Nodes of information appear to be local and related to specific
agricultural activities. This research
activity will be completed in July for Bolivia.
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A first review of the literature for the Puno region was
undertaken by Claverias (publication available on line). Currently a survey is eliciting information
on local forecasts in two communities of Puno, both agropastoral and
Aymara. A replication of the study on
networks will take place at both sites during the third year of the research
project, second in Peru.
Addressing the question, "Are
there technologies available for years of drought or frost that would allow farmers
to make use of information on forecasts?", a research
activity was conducted in collaboration with PROINPA to assess with farmers
varieties that tolerate frosts or low rainfall. A study of livelihoods and the role of potato will be completed
in July (M Sc Ag Economics, Susan Materer).
One of the factors affecting the role and dedication to potato
production and consumption in the Altiplano is a function of the
characteristics of the economic portfolio managed by the household. A common role in livelihoods dealing with
climatic perturbations is the role of chuño, which acts as a measure of ability
to cope from year to year.
Researchers in the region under the lead of CIP are calibrating models
that will be used to measure the impact of droughts and frosts on the economic
portfolios of the different groups identified.
The groups differ in livelihood strategies and vulnerability differs as
a function of the activities in which they are engage which related to access
to resources, life cycle, and "exogenous"
factors. Progress in the calibration of
models can be viewed in the second annual
report appendix (please note this is a very large file).
(Coming soon...)
- On going activities
in the Altiplano of Bolivia
- On going activities
in Puno, Peru
Every year an expert panel is held near one of the research sites. The
First Expert Panel (See Publications for
Workshop in the list of presentations) took place July 2000. The second one is planned for the second week of July 2001. These panels provide an opportunity to
review on going research activities, as well as identify areas that should be
pursued, and that were not considered in the original plan of work. It provides an opportunity to build linkages
with organizations that work in the areas of early warning in agriculture and
food security.
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