The administrative process took a year or two to complete and the farm has been working fully for a year and a half. 180 hectares have been farmed and, already, on each 60 hectares there have been three cycles of production of peppers, melon, cucumber, onions, tomatoes and coriander.
Carlos Gutierrez told us that members of the farm have already planned for 2010.
One of the projects, which has already begun, is to grow grass fodder to feed goats, which has been the staple produce of all households in the area. A genetic center to improve goat herds will start next year and involve local villages, which are not necessarily in the Ana Soto farm.
The grass grown will be cut and put in bags to sell at moderate prices to all the villages. Soy and beans will also provide silage for the animals.
When we arrived, we found Carlos advising a visiting group of peasants from Falcon State and telling them about the next challenge Ana Soto faces in marketing its produce.
As spokesperson for the farm, Carlos is negotiating with the government's Mercal distribution and stores organization to fix a standard price for the whole year as one way of solving fluctuating seasonal prices.
I learned that the success of the farm has turned it to a point of reference for many peasant groups and agrarian reform projects ... Carlos says part of his job is to spread the message.
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