Bolivia proclaimed independence in 1809, but the establishment of a republic, named for Simón Bolívar, did not happen until August 6, 1825. Ensuing years meant political upheaval and unsettling times for the population. During one of the wars, Bolivia became landlocked as it lost its seacoast to Chile. Meanwhile, Paraguay invaded and afterwards, did allow access to the Paraguay River.
Landlocked Bolivia
Through to the 21st Century, when in the elections held in December of 2005, Evo Morales and the socialist MAS party obtained a victory with 54% of the vote, becoming the first Native Bolivian president in history. In February 2009 a new constitution was enacted by Evo Morales. This gave Bolivians of indigenous descent more economic and political rights.
As one would expect, all this turmoil affected coffee production. In Bolivia 95% of coffee production is in the rural areas of the Yungas, but other growing regions are Santa Cruz, Beni, Cochabamba, Tarija, and Pando.
While there are large commercial farms, land reforms have expropriated most of the large landholdings and redistributed them back to rural farming families. These small plots range from 1-8 hectares and produce between 85-95% of Bolivia’s coffee, most of which is the Arabica variety and grown organically at an altitude of 600-2,200 ft. above sea level.
“Death Road” – dangerous transportation
Bolivia has altitude, fertile soil, and a consistent rainy season, but problems of rugged terrain and a lack of communication and technology make coffee quality control almost impossible. The green coffee beans had to be sent along “Death Road”, a dangerous mountain road, when they were prepared but not fully dry. This resulted in some strange flavours, but recently, funding from various outside agencies has helped to establish co-ops in rural areas, and since 2006 the road has been upgraded and modernized. Coffee farmers have the means to ensure quality, value, provide more community jobs, and be able to tap into the organic global market. Properly processed, the coffee has a full, fruity taste.
However, like its past, Bolivia’s future is still uncertain, but hopeful.
Pistol and Burnes likes to be part of the solution. Several of our fairly traded organic coffees from Bolivia are featured below. Please click on one of the images for more information or to order.
Tags: alternative choices, coffee beans, coffee farmer, Sustainable Coffee
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