Summary of Paul Noland's
Trip to East Bolivia
March 29-April 11, 1998The first few days of my stay in Santa Cruz I visited a number of farms (swine and dairy) with members of the technical staff of Columbia Agro Import. This company had paid part of my in-country expenses for my trip. We had a 3 hour educational meeting one evening for 35 swine producers. At the request of Miguel Cortez I had brought current information concerning the swine disease, PRRS. The local veterinarians and producers were very interested in this information as the disease is very prevalent in the U.S. and producers in East Bolivia are fearful that the disease will enter their country. The management and technical staff of Columbia Agro Import were very helpful and knowledgeable about production practices and producers. A few days later I gave two, 4 hour sessions on swine production and nutrition. There were 62 university students, faculty and producers in the group. These sessions were given at the Autonomous University (Gabriel Rene Moreno). After the sessions 2 young ladies who are officers of the student association thanked me very graciously for coming and giving the seminars.
On day I traveled to Samiapata with Drs. Jose Ribera and Raul Montenegro to visit some campesinos and campesinas who would be small sheep producers in a project being proposed but funds are needed to initiate the project.
Miguel Cortez and I met with technical staff of CIAT in Santa Cruz. Our purpose was to establish a linkage between nutritionists at Gabriel Rene Moreno and CIAT in order for the CIAT analytical laboratory to be used on a fee basis to provide livestock producers a mechanism whereby they can obtain nutritional analysis of their various feedstuffs. This meeting was important for the initiation of the project.
While in Santa Cruz, the father of Marta Cortez's died. Those of you who know her might want to send condolences. He lived in Beni. I enjoyed visiting with several Bolivians who have been in Arkansas and they send greetings to the members of the Arkansas Chapter. These included Max and Sonia Frydman, Demetrio Soruco, Carmina Saldana Maria Eugenia Mosciaro and of course Miguel Cortez. As in my first trip, I continue to be impressed with the genuineness and true hospitality of the people in East Bolivia.