Producing our own feed

Interview by Catherine Moriarty.

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Rolando Condori is a 23-year-old veterinary student living at the college while working on his research project. He was born in La Paz and has one older brother named Herminio. When Rolando was only ten years old his father died, leaving his mother, aunt, and grandmother struggling to raise the two brothers. By the time he was twelve the family no longer had the resources to take care of them and so Rolando went to an orphanage called Ciudad de Niño Jesús. His older brother went straight to work. Through the Ciudad de Niño and Sister Damon, Rolando obtained a scholarship to attend the college where he has finished all course work and is now working on his research project. Whenever possible Rolando goes to La Paz to visit his mother, Damiana Chinahuanca, with whom he maintains a close relationship.

Rolando’s project is to design a feed processing plant at the college to produce feed for the college’s animals as well as the farmers of the Yungas region. Currently, the college and the local farmers buy feed from large companies in La Paz who in turn buy their grains from Santa Cruz and eastern Bolivia. Implementing a feed processing plant at the college would be more cost effective for the UAC and the region’s farmers because it would remove the middle man and shift the locus of control from a company in La Paz to the college. It would also provide incentives for the production of grain by local farmers, which in turn would make the costs even lower. His project received support from the NGO conBolivia.

Rolando’s project will not only serve the college but also the local farmers. Ultimately the plant would not only save the UAC and local farmers’ money but also be a source of revenue. In Rolando’s own words, “The idea is to help others as we help ourselves.” Rolando’s long-term goals include one day owning his own farm and a small food business in La Paz, which would serve food to those who work hard or study hard, and don’t have the means to feed themselves.


Photo: Rolando Condori