Mano a Mano’s agronomist Juan Carlos Cardenas recently visited Jironkota, Bolivia where we have constructed many greenhouses in partnership with community farmers. Juan Carlos was visiting Jironkota in response to a request for help in controlling pests in their greenhouse. Mano a Mano’s Center for Ecological Agriculture, based in Cochabamba, Bolivia, provides training and tools for rural Bolivan farmers to improve food security and nutrition.

Jironkota, Bolivia (the yellow-topped buildings are Mano a Mano greenhouses).

Here he asks local resident Don Pastor about his greenhouse:

Juan Carlos begins his interviewing in Spanish but the leaders almost always answer in Quechua. Mano a Mano creates partnerships with Bolivian communities, and part of that partnership-based approach is appreciating and respecting the different languages and cultures of the rural communities we partner with (mostly Quechua-speaking); our 4 counterpart organizations based in Cochabamba, Bolivia (Spanish-speaking); and our US office, donors, and volunteers based in St. Paul, Minnesota (mostly English-speaking).

Translation of Juan Carlos’ Interview, With Time Stamps:

• :02-:07 (Mano a Mano Agronomist) We are here in Jironkota in Don Pastor’s greenhouse
• :07–:13 We can precisely see the production
• :17 Production is visible. They are keeping it maintained.
• :23 We are here with two leaders who want to talk about the project
• :25 Is the project (greenhouse) of help?
• :39 These vegetables are of help thanks to don Segundino (Segundo Velasquez is Mano a Mano’s Co-Founder).
• :46 We are grateful. These vegetables keep us healthy. These products keep us healthy. We do not sell any.
• :55 We do not sell. Thank you.
• 1:03 We had become aware that the plants are infested. Today we have learned how to cure them.
• 1:06 For example, here you see the dust.
• 1:16 Here too, you see aphids infecting the plants.
• 1:26 How are we going to cure, eliminate this disease that is infecting our plants
• 1:41 Thank you, you helped us with these greenhouses. The entire family consumes.
• 1:44 We do not sell.
• 1:45 We are nourished.
• 1:48 Children go to school well fed.
• 1:51 And our children learn.
• 2:02 Today we have learned to cure the plants.
• 2:07 We fumigated. Bugs were showing up.
• 2:14 We have made them disappear.
• 2:17 Once they are gone, the plant recuperates. We can eat it and get nourished.
• 2:23 We’re very grateful.
• 2:32 It is our hope you will be able to help us in the future. We are in need of housing so we can live better. Now we have lights (electricity).

Learn More About Mano a Mano’s Center for Ecological Agriculture

• Video: Center for Ecological Agriculture (CEA) in Cochabamba, Bolivia
• Gaining Ground: A Blueprint for Community-Based International Development (Mano a Mano’s book)
• 204+ Greenhouses Built in Rural Bolivia
• Hydroponic Lettuce, Fodder, and Livestock at the CEA: Agricultural Experiments in 2020
• What Does Mano a Mano Do?