Interview
study on the impact of CAFTA on farmers in Chalatenango
We
are happy to provide you with a brief synopsis
of a November 2003 report by Diana Hammer, a
volunteer for the SHARE Foundation who lived
in the CCR region as a volunteer the final four
months of last year. As a graduate student working
towards her master’s degree in social
work she interviewed rural Salvadoran farmers
to better understand their perception of the
CAFTA agreement and how it will affect their
lives if passed. The SHARE Foundation supports
Diana’s work because of the importance
of giving voice to those who will be most affected
by new free trade policies and yet have not
had the opportunity to participate in the political
process pushing them forward. Please refer to
complete study in Spanish as well as the English
translation of the interview questions, in the
following documents.
Summary
of the Interview Study
Diana carried out her interviews
with members of the following communities: Carasque,
Nueva Trinidad, Guarjila, Ellacuría,
El Amatillo, El Zapotal, Las Lomas, Los Ramírez,
Teosinte and Platanares. Before summarizing
the responses she received, Diana explains the
general sentiment expressed by those she spoke
with:
“
What one can clearly see in the responses of
the farmers, summarized below, is that the free
trade agreements will not bring any benefit
to the agricultural sector of this country.
Those that participated in the interviews say
that the agricultural production is already
very low when compared with other countries,
and that it will become even worse with the
arrival of free trade. The Salvadoran farmers
are in agreement that if they cannot sell their
basic grains at a good price, they will not
even have enough work to provide for their own
families. The farmers see that the only way
to guarantee that they will not die of hunger
is to maintain strong community organization
and to struggle -- however possible -- until
the government removes this threat.
As
a conclusion to these interviews, Diana writes
the following:
“After
completing this survey with the farmers, their
opinion is clear regarding what is being negotiated
in CAFTA. The farmers in the area of Chalatenango
do not see any personal benefits in these agreements
taken by international governments. Although
the majority of these people do not have high
levels of formal education, they understand
what is meant by the words free trade. The farmers
will not be able to sell their products in a
market full of cheap products from other countries.
Without this income, which is currently very
little, they will not be able to afford production
costs either; like seeds and fertilizer that
they use for their agricultural work. With the
corn that they are barely able to produce for
their own families, and a lack of other work
alternatives, the Salvadoran farmers only see
more poverty in their future. In the responses
of this survey one can also see that the people
are not going to be tricked by the current government’s
policies. They are ready to organize marches
and strikes so that the government listens to
the demands of the people. They are also ready
to vote for a government, ‘that will be
more representative of the poor.’”
Diana’s
study is a perfect reflection on why we must
be motivated to advocate against CAFTA during
this critical time in which the agreement will
be presented to the government of each of the
participating countries. During this new year,
let us not forget the poor of El Salvador, who
ask us to stand in solidarity with them against
CAFTA. These families, who we consider to be
part of our own, are putting everything on the
line to stop CAFTA because they believe it is
a life or death choice. Let´s stand with
them as they choose life.
Sincerely,
Jason
Kopp
SHARE
El Salvador Grassroots Intern
©
|
