Evan Abramson

Reportage: A Hunger for Land

Carumbey I, Lima district, San Pedro—October 26, 2008—Landless farmers maintain camp at the edge of a 7,000 acre property that borders their community, and which was acquired illegally during former Paraguayan dictator Alfredo Stroessner’s 35-year reign as president. Peasant farmers’ demands for land have increased since a soy-farming boom gathered pace five years ago in Paraguay. A wave of land takeovers is sweeping the nation, putting the $600 million dollar transnational soy industry in Paraguay at risk, which represents more than 30 percent of total exports for the country. Soy production has increased exponentially in recent years due to rising demand worldwide for meat and cattle feed, and the booming biodiesel industry. Industrial soy is directed toward these markets. Most of the soybean producers are Brazilian and Argentinian who moved to Paraguay in the last 10-15 years. Of the current 600,000 soybean producers in Paraguay, only 24% are Paraguayan.
Carumbey I, Lima district, San Pedro—October 26, 2008—Landless farmers maintain camp at the edge of a 7,000 acre property that borders their community, and which was acquired illegally during former Paraguayan dictator Alfredo Stroessner’s 35-year reign as president. Peasant farmers’ demands for land have increased since a soy-farming boom gathered pace five years ago in Paraguay. A wave of land takeovers is sweeping the nation, putting the $600 million dollar transnational soy industry in Paraguay at risk, which represents more than 30 percent of total exports for the country. Soy production has increased exponentially in recent years due to rising demand worldwide for meat and cattle feed, and the booming biodiesel industry. Industrial soy is directed toward these markets. Most of the soybean producers are Brazilian and Argentinian who moved to Paraguay in the last 10-15 years. Of the current 600,000 soybean producers in Paraguay, only 24% are Paraguayan.