EACC Bolivia

d E v E l o p m E n t A n d c l i m A t E c h A n g E d i s c U s s i o n pA p E R s
31
figURE 17: socioEconomic
stRAtificAtion in thE commUnitiEs
Medium
50.0%
Rich
9.2%
Source: Prepared from Enquiry Form 4.
Poor
40.8%
given community (i.e. poor families in one community
may differ significantly from poor families in another).
Table 19 indicates degrees of socio-economic differentiation
in the communities: the so-called “rich” own
between 5–10 times more assets than “poor” families,
particularly as regards ownership of animals.
On the other hand, analyzing the figures by macroregion,
it appears that the differences between strata are
higher in the Plains.
Figure 18 shows that productive assets within each stratum
can vary significantly, given that in each macroregion
communities possess different productive skills.
Communities in the Altiplano, for example, which raise
camelids tend to own many more animals than other
communities engaged in agricultural pursuits.
livElihood stRAtEgiEs By
socioEconomic stRAtA.
Livelihood strategies and socioeconomic status are
closely linked. A particular livelihood strategy is
governed not by what families or communities desire of
their own free will but by a set of overriding factors that
must be met. A dairy-based livelihood strategy calls, for
example, for a substantial amount of capital for investing
in livestock and infrastructure; such families need
irrigated land for growing fodder and to be close to
markets where they can sell their milk. The capital
invested in dairy units is generally 10 to 20 times
greater than that invested in rainfed agricultural units. 6
This means that only the richest families in the
community are dairy farmers, earning over ten times
more than families living off rainfed agriculture. 7
6 Wizke Emilie: Study of production systems in the Yotala Valley, page 25.
7 Idem, page 33
tABlE 19: fAmily AgRicUltURAl AssEts By stRAtA And mAcRo-REgion
Area cultivated (Ha)
Livestock ownership (AUE)
Macro-region Stratum Valid N Mean Std.Dev. Mean Std.Dev.
Altiplano poor 20 0.8 0.7 7.14 9.13
Average 20 1.6 1.1 46.9 43.2
Rich 16 2.8 2.4 94.1 83.4
valleys poor 25 0.9 0.8 6.0 3.3
Average 25 2.2 1.5 4.14 6.4
Rich 20 4.4 3.3 37.0 7.15
plains poor 15 1.5 1.1 1.3 2.3
Average 15 4.4 5.6 5.3 9.9
Rich 15 8.5 10.8 9.13 25.0
chaco poor 10 1.2 0.8 3.1 3.4
Average 10 3.0 1.7 9.0 7.6
Rich 10 4.5 2.1 1.20 3.12
Source: Enquiry Form 4
UEB: Animal Unit Equivalent