Harina de yuca

Today Jimmy Lobaton, a student from the agronomy program, defended his graduation project. It was a business plan to produce and commercialize cassava, a root crop that is the world's third largest source of calories.

"Presently there are no commercial cassava flour producers in Bolivia -- everything that you find in the supermarket is imported from Brazil," he commented.

Jimmy's project has a strong extension component: he will find farmers to produce cassava, train them in good production practices, and buy their harvest to transform into flour in a small production unit in the Alto of La Paz. This kind of initiative has many strengths: it improves the lives of farmers while generating value in the Bolivian economy, and provides job to Bolivians.

Since the approval of his project for graduation, he will be looking for a loan -- and launching himself into the world, leaving his university nest. ¡Buena suerte, Jimmy!


Photo: New graduate Jimmy Lobaton poses with his father after his successful defense.