LISTENING PROJECT (Proyecto Escuchar)
A Listening Project is designed to identify themes, problems and priorities of a community, to generate creative solutions for problems, and create a base for cooperative action. It needs to include not just the leaders, but the voices of the average people. With just a couple of volunteers, we only did 20 interviews, but the information we gained led to a project in teaching organic agriculture at a local high schoo
_Results of 20 interviews, Proyecto Escuchar
9 Women: four with children/not working outside home, 1 photo store saleswoman, 1 media student, one worker at El ArteSano cultural center, one farmer/housewife, one unstated.
11 Men: 2 construction workers, retired former farmer, farmer, unemployed, moto-taxista, mechanic, retired from paper business, veterinarian, retired grade school teacher, teacher and regante (elected official).
Ten interviewees gave their phone numbers.
Residences: Pintacha, Terapata, Ayupampa, Intorpocho(?), downtown, Yucay, Lares Pampa, Urquillos, Chichubamba, Recoletta, Ollantaytambo, Cotohuinchu , Yanahuara, Chacuar. (Most of these, except for Ollantaytambo, are small communities within minutes of downtown Urubamba.)
Priorities: Many thought all the themes were important. On average drinking water was the first priority, a cleaner river second, less plastic trash third, and organic agriculture fourth. The three people without chimneys for their wood-burning cooking stoves placed that as their top priority, however, and said there were problems in their families with cough and inflamed eyes. Three people used pit toilets or just a hole in the ground, and would like better sanitation; one said that in Cotohuincha, a very poor section, there are no bathrooms or sewers and the babies frequently have diarrhea. Karina Huaman of Ayupampa says some of her neighbors have no toilets and she knows this affects the asequias and causes diarrhea.
Other problems mentioned as “worst”: contaminated air (mentioned 3x), burning of vegetation (2x), family violence, lack of jobs, lack of technology for agriculture, lack of economic resources for the elderly, alcoholism, political corruption, inflation. Climate change (2x); seeing the snowcaps on the mountains melting -“In 1997, these mountains were all white,” said Lucio, a retiree.
Drinking water: Up to 90% of the children have parasites. Only two admitted that anyone in their immediate family had gotten sick from the water, and all said they boil it.
River: Many remembered that the river, 20+ years ago, used to be full of trout and other fish. Now they refer to the river as “dead.” Frogs, toads and other animals have disappeared along with the fish. Some people who live near the river use it to irrigate their crops despite all the sewage going into it. The poisonous, acidic water does not result in good crops. Most thought that Cusco needed to stop dumping sewage into the Huatanay River, but that this would be costly. Instituto de Manejo de Agua in Cusco has responsibility. Septic tanks were seen as a partial solution. Open asequias are an issue, and people need education about not dumping trash into the asequias and their proper use. “The Apu (spirit) of the river is affected badly by all the trash and contamination and it is no longer the Sacred River (Rio Sagrado). This affects agriculture and health and all of life. There is $ but nothing is done, only talk. A large investment will be needed to clean it up. The water causes skin diseases. “The river is an indignation,” said Nicunor Cardenas Gallegos of Ollantaytambo. Some reported that their neighbors use river water for agriculture but it is poisoned water, highly acidic so it does not produce good crops; when used to grow lettuce, it causes diseases.
Responsibility: Most thought the Municipality should take responsibility, some said the hotels could do more, some said NGOs and outsiders were more likely to help.
Floods: Four said they, relatives or neighbors had lost crops to the floods, the acidic water and the mud and stones killed everything.
Plastic trash:
A common response was that there needs to be more public education, through the schools and the radio. Several mentioned that there are schools that recycle plastic bottles. They bring in 50 centavos per kilo (about 20 cents US). Two said: avoid buying plastic, use paper or cloth instead. Most favored recycling and thought the Municipality should take more responsibility for increasing the number of trash receptacles for organics/inorganics, and more frequent pickup. Two spoke of color coded receptacles or bags. One mentioned the burning of plastic. People need incentives to recycle, said one. The majority said they reuse plastic bags. One mentioned bringing clean plastic bottles to be reused by the chicha (corn beer) ladies. “Every corner needs a trash can,” said Ortega, a retired farmer living downtown. Burning of plastic trash is a source of air pollution, but for many it is the only means of disposal.
Agriculture:
The majority said they grew crops and used chemicals; most said that the soil is so poor that chemical fertilizers are needed to grow anything. Three mentioned insect pests such as worms in the potatoes and diseases of plants such as fungus, as reasons for using chemicals, and because all their neighbors use them. Six said it was difficult to obtain enough organic fertilizers such as guano. Four said they might be interested in learning about making their own natural fertilizers, and one retiree said he would be willing to teach. One said natural fertilizers were not practical for a large area, and that the extra costs of organic farming cannot be recouped in the market because higher priced produce won’t compete with the cheaper food. Only two did not use chemicals. Most knew about the value of manure (“guano de isla” or “guano de corral.”) One mentioned the value of tarwi (bean) cooking water as a fumigant. One brought up the need for better irrigation than the traditional regante system of inundation, such as drip irrigation. When there were toads, they used to eat insects, but pesticides have killed the toads. One said chemical food has no substance or flavor and is unnatural. One thought chemicals have affected the quality of the corn and the soil. There are more insects now than before due to climate change, one said. Many expressed interest in learning organic methods. The present asequia system spreads the chemicals used on the neighbor’s crop above you, to your field, so it’s hard to be pure organic. Chemicals have sterilized the soil and also cause diseases. Wanting to see more organic methods taught in the schools. Jose Luis of Chichubamba, a veterinarian, said that the Green Revolution’s propaganda hooked my neighbors and once they use the chemicals they never stop because the chemicals make the soil inert and weak.” He worried about transgenics and their effect on health. It costs more labor to grow organic vegetables, but they won’t sell in the market unless the price is the same as conventional. Not seeing biol and humus as practical on a large 2 hectare plot. One woman said she thought the asequia system should be replaced with drip irrigation, more efficient. Two mentioned that they disapprove of burning of crop wastes or clearing of land with fire, saying it pollutes the air and isn’t good for the soil.
Celestino Bustamante, one of the teachers at the Colegio Agropecuario, said that the school had tried making a large amount of compost last year, but that it had attracted flies and the neighbors filed a complaint with the police and made them stop! He said that the school farm’s organic products do not reach the size of the chemically fertilized ones and therefore don’t get the same price in the market. “People have to earn a living so they turn to the chemicals,” he concluded. (Of course, the school does not produce enough compost to really rebuild the damaged soil, and just substituting liquid natural fertilizers for chemical ones is not sufficient in itself.)
9 Women: four with children/not working outside home, 1 photo store saleswoman, 1 media student, one worker at El ArteSano cultural center, one farmer/housewife, one unstated.
11 Men: 2 construction workers, retired former farmer, farmer, unemployed, moto-taxista, mechanic, retired from paper business, veterinarian, retired grade school teacher, teacher and regante (elected official).
Ten interviewees gave their phone numbers.
Residences: Pintacha, Terapata, Ayupampa, Intorpocho(?), downtown, Yucay, Lares Pampa, Urquillos, Chichubamba, Recoletta, Ollantaytambo, Cotohuinchu , Yanahuara, Chacuar. (Most of these, except for Ollantaytambo, are small communities within minutes of downtown Urubamba.)
Priorities: Many thought all the themes were important. On average drinking water was the first priority, a cleaner river second, less plastic trash third, and organic agriculture fourth. The three people without chimneys for their wood-burning cooking stoves placed that as their top priority, however, and said there were problems in their families with cough and inflamed eyes. Three people used pit toilets or just a hole in the ground, and would like better sanitation; one said that in Cotohuincha, a very poor section, there are no bathrooms or sewers and the babies frequently have diarrhea. Karina Huaman of Ayupampa says some of her neighbors have no toilets and she knows this affects the asequias and causes diarrhea.
Other problems mentioned as “worst”: contaminated air (mentioned 3x), burning of vegetation (2x), family violence, lack of jobs, lack of technology for agriculture, lack of economic resources for the elderly, alcoholism, political corruption, inflation. Climate change (2x); seeing the snowcaps on the mountains melting -“In 1997, these mountains were all white,” said Lucio, a retiree.
Drinking water: Up to 90% of the children have parasites. Only two admitted that anyone in their immediate family had gotten sick from the water, and all said they boil it.
River: Many remembered that the river, 20+ years ago, used to be full of trout and other fish. Now they refer to the river as “dead.” Frogs, toads and other animals have disappeared along with the fish. Some people who live near the river use it to irrigate their crops despite all the sewage going into it. The poisonous, acidic water does not result in good crops. Most thought that Cusco needed to stop dumping sewage into the Huatanay River, but that this would be costly. Instituto de Manejo de Agua in Cusco has responsibility. Septic tanks were seen as a partial solution. Open asequias are an issue, and people need education about not dumping trash into the asequias and their proper use. “The Apu (spirit) of the river is affected badly by all the trash and contamination and it is no longer the Sacred River (Rio Sagrado). This affects agriculture and health and all of life. There is $ but nothing is done, only talk. A large investment will be needed to clean it up. The water causes skin diseases. “The river is an indignation,” said Nicunor Cardenas Gallegos of Ollantaytambo. Some reported that their neighbors use river water for agriculture but it is poisoned water, highly acidic so it does not produce good crops; when used to grow lettuce, it causes diseases.
Responsibility: Most thought the Municipality should take responsibility, some said the hotels could do more, some said NGOs and outsiders were more likely to help.
Floods: Four said they, relatives or neighbors had lost crops to the floods, the acidic water and the mud and stones killed everything.
Plastic trash:
A common response was that there needs to be more public education, through the schools and the radio. Several mentioned that there are schools that recycle plastic bottles. They bring in 50 centavos per kilo (about 20 cents US). Two said: avoid buying plastic, use paper or cloth instead. Most favored recycling and thought the Municipality should take more responsibility for increasing the number of trash receptacles for organics/inorganics, and more frequent pickup. Two spoke of color coded receptacles or bags. One mentioned the burning of plastic. People need incentives to recycle, said one. The majority said they reuse plastic bags. One mentioned bringing clean plastic bottles to be reused by the chicha (corn beer) ladies. “Every corner needs a trash can,” said Ortega, a retired farmer living downtown. Burning of plastic trash is a source of air pollution, but for many it is the only means of disposal.
Agriculture:
The majority said they grew crops and used chemicals; most said that the soil is so poor that chemical fertilizers are needed to grow anything. Three mentioned insect pests such as worms in the potatoes and diseases of plants such as fungus, as reasons for using chemicals, and because all their neighbors use them. Six said it was difficult to obtain enough organic fertilizers such as guano. Four said they might be interested in learning about making their own natural fertilizers, and one retiree said he would be willing to teach. One said natural fertilizers were not practical for a large area, and that the extra costs of organic farming cannot be recouped in the market because higher priced produce won’t compete with the cheaper food. Only two did not use chemicals. Most knew about the value of manure (“guano de isla” or “guano de corral.”) One mentioned the value of tarwi (bean) cooking water as a fumigant. One brought up the need for better irrigation than the traditional regante system of inundation, such as drip irrigation. When there were toads, they used to eat insects, but pesticides have killed the toads. One said chemical food has no substance or flavor and is unnatural. One thought chemicals have affected the quality of the corn and the soil. There are more insects now than before due to climate change, one said. Many expressed interest in learning organic methods. The present asequia system spreads the chemicals used on the neighbor’s crop above you, to your field, so it’s hard to be pure organic. Chemicals have sterilized the soil and also cause diseases. Wanting to see more organic methods taught in the schools. Jose Luis of Chichubamba, a veterinarian, said that the Green Revolution’s propaganda hooked my neighbors and once they use the chemicals they never stop because the chemicals make the soil inert and weak.” He worried about transgenics and their effect on health. It costs more labor to grow organic vegetables, but they won’t sell in the market unless the price is the same as conventional. Not seeing biol and humus as practical on a large 2 hectare plot. One woman said she thought the asequia system should be replaced with drip irrigation, more efficient. Two mentioned that they disapprove of burning of crop wastes or clearing of land with fire, saying it pollutes the air and isn’t good for the soil.
Celestino Bustamante, one of the teachers at the Colegio Agropecuario, said that the school had tried making a large amount of compost last year, but that it had attracted flies and the neighbors filed a complaint with the police and made them stop! He said that the school farm’s organic products do not reach the size of the chemically fertilized ones and therefore don’t get the same price in the market. “People have to earn a living so they turn to the chemicals,” he concluded. (Of course, the school does not produce enough compost to really rebuild the damaged soil, and just substituting liquid natural fertilizers for chemical ones is not sufficient in itself.)