Location: Cochabamba Setting: Rural and Urban Established: 1987 Staff: 11

 

Subject Areas

Environment: Soil Erosion, Sustainable Agriculture, Agriculture Economics, Dairy Farming, Veterinary Work

Research: Quantitative/Qualitative Analysis and Program Evaluation

 

Organization Objectives

ACRHOBOL provides technical assistance for Cochabamban dairy producers to improve their production processes, product quality, and business skills. ACRHOBOL also works with farmers to reduce water contamination by livestock, environmental degradation, and other negative environmental effects of dairy farming. ACRHOBOL works to:

• Conduct capacity building workshops and group events to enable farmers to run efficient businesses and create the high quality livestock and milk
• Provide technical assistance in dairy production and quality
• Provide technical assistance in livestock management, breeding, and nutrition
• Evaluate and record detailed genealogies of farmers’ livestock, with a focus on Holstein and Brown Swiss cows
• Support agro-business and agro-economics management
• Promote environmental awareness and reduce environmental contamination around dairy farms
• Manage cattle artificial insemination breeding program (certified by SelectSires)

 

Program Information

 

1. Product Control and Development

Projects within this program focus on the different elements of livestock production and their impact on the environment. The ACRHOBOL team of agriculturists, nutritionists, breeders, veterinarians, and engineers work with producers to provide them with the skills necessary to produce high quality products (livestock and milk) while minimizing the impact on the environment. This includes planning and cataloging the breeding of cows, controlling their diet, integrating new technology into production, and increasing awareness of livestocks’ impact on the natural environment.

 

Opportunities

• Investigate dairy production and how it relates to the natural environment with the goal of developing projects that will decrease environmental degradation (create workshops for producers, research appropriate technologies, network with international dairy farmers, etc.)
• Work with the nutritional team to create the optimal diets for healthy cows and milk
• Contribute to the development of breeding techniques in order to maintain high quality livestock
• Assist in the genealogy cataloging of farmers’ livestock
• Help with the administration and management of small dairy farms
• Work with veterinarians to provide high quality care for livestock

 

Requirements

• Basic Spanish
• Understanding of the specific areas in which the project works
• Self initiative and motivation
• Ability to work well in a team
• Coursework or experience in agriculture, environmental management, livestock production, or large animal veterinary medicine useful (but not essential)

 

2. Financial and Business Development

ACRHOBOL’s business and financial development program works with a diversity of local and international stakeholders, including producers, local and state governments, and international institutions. Its aim is to increase farmers’ profits, promote a sustainable dairy industry, and reduce negative impacts on the natural environment.

 

Opportunities

• Research and develop better agro-business practices for farmers and produce workshops, documentation, skill training materials, etc.
• Work with the accounting department in order to better manage and develop ACRHOBOL finances
• Develop the International and National Dairy Farm Network in order to facilitate improved exchange of technology
• Contribute to the improvement of ACRHOBOL’s infrastructure and best practices
• Manage business relations with microfinance clients
• Develop awareness-building campaign on sustainable dairy production

 

Requirements

• Basic Spanish
• Understanding of the specific areas in which the project works
• Self initiative and motivation
• Ability to work well in a team

 

Program Supervisor (All Programs)

Juan Agreda is in charge of cataloging the livestock and monitoring their nutrition. Juan has been working full time with ACRHOBOL for over 15 years and has studied in both Bolivia and the United States. Every two years Juan participates in the International Dairy Fair in Wisconsin.

 

Note: Responsibilities offered to each participant will be proportionate to their level of experience. Participants who are new to development work may predominantly support and assist current project agendas, while those with much applicable experience may be able to assume greater responsibility. Research projects are strongly encouraged by this organization to support each program’s objectives because minimal resources are currently allocated for research.

 

Working Conditions

ACRHOBOL has a central office where their executive director and secretary work full time. Adjacent to the main office is a food production facility where additional staff members work. However, much of the Association’s work is done in the field on farms around Cochabamba. The majority of the farms with which ACRHOBOL works are within a thirty minute to two hour drive. Visits to farms are usually planned in advance and are done in teams. ACROBOL uses its own vehicles for transportation.

 

The ACRHOBOL office is fully equipped with computers and the internet, which FSD participants will be able to access. Centrally located, the main office is also easily accessible from all Cochabamba host families. The staff of ACRHOBOL is eager to work with new interns/volunteers.

 

Organizational Background

ACRHOBOL was founded in 1987 with the goal of improving the lives of local dairy farmers. It seeks to give traditional farmers the tools to transform their small farms into highly productive small businesses and provide them with the skills and capacities necessary to develop and run their agribusinesses independently. ACRHOBOL is a small association and chooses to maintain its size so it can have more direct contact and interaction with its clients. ACRHOBOL provides the most thorough and competent livestock genealogy records that exist in Cochabamba, serving their clients in a way that their competitors can not.

 

About ACRHOBOL’s Clients

ACRHOBOL works with approximately 800 dairy producers throughout the Cochabamba region (out of approximately 3000 producers). ACRHOBOL has twenty-one associates among these 800 producers who serve as representatives for the other producers. Each one of the associates represents a different region and works more directly with ACRHOBOL in order to bring its services to the remaining participating producers.

 

In addition to local Cochabamba producers, ACRHOBOL also works within a network of over 500 producers in Bolivia, through which they share technology and information.