Ecuador: Three Projects, Three Days
In three days, we toured three very different but very informative projects within the city of Ambato. They highlighted many of the development efforts taking place within the country. The first was a tour of Plasticaucho, a large manufacturing company based in Ambato. Plasticaucho manufactures in affordable rain boots, tennis shoes, leather shoes, and other foot ware. Many of their products utilize PVC (polyvinyl chloride), a substance derived from petroleum, rather than natural rubber to keep costs down. But the products were not what stood out to me. Plasticaucho’s dedication to their community and workforce was impressive. The company provides its employees with numerous benefits and services in addition to playing an important role in the economic development of the city. Extensive medical benefits, employment for the disabled, an intra-company sports league, an employee financial services center, and a sincere appreciation for their employees set Plasticaucho apart from my preconceived ideas of how a large manufacturing company operates. While there are surely environmental costs to Plasticaucho’s expansive operations, their dedication to improving their community and the lives of their employees was impressive. With more emphasis on environmental sustainability, perhaps Plasticaucho could serve as a sustainable model for other Ecuadorian businesses.
The second tour was of a demonstration organic farm set up by the provincial government of Tungurahua. Agriculture is a cornerstone of Tungurahua’s economy but increasing attention is focused on creating a healthier and more environmentally friendly agricultural system. The demonstration farm is one of several projects designed to provide resources and information to local farmers on the benefits of organic agriculture. Through community outreach projects (e.g., booths at markets, advertising at local festivals, etc) the 5-year old demonstration farm has increased interest in organic agricultural methods. Onsite are numerous crops, often grown together to demonstrate the benefits of polyculture, a composting facility, livestock, and a wealth of informational posters outlining organic agricultural processes. The farm even has its own small wetland and lagoon for onsite water treatment. The folks operating the farm spoke highly of the environmental and human health benefits of organic agriculture but also outlined practical and economical ways for local farmers to switch to organic methods. This farm and similar efforts by the government will hopefully provide Tungurahua with healthy produce without the economic and environmental drain of imported fertilizers and pesticides.
The third tour, which rounded out our last day in Ambato, was with the Cuesta Holguin Foundation, a non-profit funded by the family of the same name (the family also owns Plasticaucho). We learned about the foundation’s efforts to provide marginalized groups access to healthcare, jobs, and other social services. An extensive work placement program is operated by the foundation with the goal of providing jobs to those with physical and mental disabilities. Through collaboration with other organizations, the foundation has also opened numerous clinics to provide affordable healthcare to those who cannot normally afford it. The foundation also operates several rural economic development projects designed to improve the lives of indigenous farmers in Tungurahua. For example, the foundation has provided indigenous farmers with the knowledge and assistance required to grow strawberries, a more marketable crop to raise income, or set up irrigation technologies, which conserve water and thus provide a buffer against the damages of future droughts (our guide mentioned climate change as a driver behind these efforts). While our short visit did not allow us to truly analyze the costs and benefits of these projects, the few local farmers and residents we talked to were very happy with the results.
These three examples show that the national push for economic growth, better living, and a healthier environment has certainly had its impact on local governments, private companies, and the non-profit sector. Hopefully these projects and companies will continue their current success into the future.