Bolivia FTO Colonial Caranavi

Bolivia FTO Colonial Carana

These coffee farmers are known as “colonials”. During the 1950’s, wealthy and large land owners took over this region. They confiscated the properties from the natives, then enslaved the people  by forcing them to work for them. In 1991, through a governmental land reform, the larger landowners were made to relinquish their holdings of these small farms and return the rightful ownership back to the families who had originally owned them. These small farms still  surround the parameters of the large landowners, but they are no longer reliant on them for survival. They are independent and have title to their own land. They now have the freedom to search  for ways to improve their income, their own  lives, and the health of their community.