It must be one of the contradictions in the still existent feudal set-up of country life, consisting of lords of the manor and peasants.
When I arrived at the recovered farm around 11 in the morning, there were people supposedly belonging to the militia playing dominoes and another group of militia sitting down in a shed and chatting ... two people from the village irrigating sorghum and two others on another plot taking care of black bean plants. The farms consists of 350 hectares, of which CVA is reforesting 19.5 hectares. When I asked about why there were so few workers, A CVA official showing us the farm explained that the idea is to create primary production units where there is no organized peasant group and he called the foreman to attention ordering an end to domino sessions and strict compliance with the agreed timetable. That is what I call immediate rectification.
Unlike the Ana Soto Zamoran farm in Bobare that has a tradition of struggle and organization, the different entities involved in the agrarian reform in quite a few areas have to start from scratch bringing in rural workers from other parts, while convincing fearful locals to join up and organize. Zamoran farms are set up where there are organized peasant and small farmer groups.
In Papelon village there is now an active communal council and Mercal government shop. I was told that a lot of the younger people sought work in the cities to avoid the drudgery and exploitation of the lord of the manor.
Hopefully, the new production plans for the valley will bring them back and I believe the government will offer more dignified housing arrangements since there are more families than houses in Papelon.
Patrick J. O'Donoghue
news.editor@vheadline.com
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