Hambre Cero or an Alternative
Submitted by fyl on Sat, 2011/03/19 - 09:30.
We can all find a lot of information about Hambre Cero, the program to eliminate hunger and, by implication, poverty, in Nicaragua. Some of what you read will say yes, it is working. Other articles will say no.
Rather than have a party line discussion about it, I want to look at it's intent and its alternatives. That is, it is clear there is hunger and poverty in many places in the world—including first world countries. Is what the Sandinista government doing here make sense and, if not, is there a better approach?
History
The problems with hunger and poverty are nothing new in Nicaragua nor most other places. During the Somoza Dynasty, the best description of what was done was ignore the poor. A clearly inexpensive approach as far as government costs and, to a certain extent, it worked. Talking to older Nicaraguans, it seems they just had zero expectations of the government doing anything for them.
People accepted that rural education all but didn't exist and that health care, while provided, was not going to be available locally for much of the population. Subsistence farming was a way of life for many and expecting to be able to move to the city and get a job pretty much didn't exist because of the lack of education and skills development for a non-rural life.
Enter the idealistic Sandinistas in 1979. They emphasized education and expansion of the health care network. Support for their programs came from around the world. They also felt that creating agricultural cooperatives such that the rural poor could pool their skills was the way to address the have/have not situation. We could debate why this effort failed but that would not be particularly productive. It is likely the failure was a combination of the poor not wanting to work together, the rich not wanting to be pushed out of the equation, lack of sufficient government organization and help and the US-backed war.
The neo-liberal years shifted things back to something much like the Somoza years. That is, little government involvement with the excuse being that private enterprise would address the issues. As would be expected, the issues to private enterprise was to maximize their income.
When the FSLN gained control of the presidency once again, a new approach was to be tried. That is Hambre Cero. Rather than the cooperative approach of the 1980s, this approach is to help individuals climb up out of poverty. The approach works by giving poor families a set of start-up tools including seeds, chickens, a cow, and some roofing. It is then up to those families to move themself forward.
Hambre Zero and Alternatives
If we read about the results, some will say that Hambre Cero works, others will tell us it doesn't. From my point of view, both answers are valid. That is, it works for some families, not for others.
A common criticism is that a family will sell the roofing and butcher the animals for meat rather than keep them to produce milk and eggs. This, of course, does happen. It doesn't happen with everyone but it certainly does happen. Another criticism is that these items were given to families who don't own sufficient land to provide food for the cow. I know, first hand, that happens as well.
Realistically, we can say that sometimes you don't get the planned result. This is, of course, true no matter what you do. To look at only a few of the ways the US attempts to address the poverty issue, there is welfare (a government handout usually based on the number of children you can claim to have), food stamps (another program based on the number of mouths to feed) and paying farmers not to grow things (in order to maintain higher prices for the products of other farmers).
Each of the US programs is going to have a lot more government overhead than Hambre Cero. It seems extremely unlikely they address the real issue of producing people that can feed themselves without government help. If anything, they seem designed to build government dependence.
The worst case happening with Hambre Cero is that a Nicaraguan family will trade the government handout for cash which they will then use unwisely. That worst case is really where the US programs I have mentioned start.
I have thought about Hambre Cero vs. what I saw growing up in California. My conclusion is that Hambre Cero at least seems to start at a better place. I have then tried to think of what sort of approach might be better at achieving the stated goals. I can't think of one. Can you?
........
Fyl writes, "During the Somoza Dynasty, the best description of what was done was ignore the poor ...Talking to older Nicaraguans, it seems they just had zero expectations of the government doing anything for them."
This is wrong. The Somozas launched several programs to address poverty. One of them was a ration card system that allocated everyone a subsistence level of beans, rice, cooking oil, sugar and cornmeal. Talking to Nicaraguans who participated, the program was very successful and they remember it with great nostalgia.
"To look at only a few of the ways the US attempts to address the poverty issue, there is welfare (a government handout usually based on the number of children you can claim to have), food stamps (another program based on the number of mouths to feed) .... It seems extremely unlikely they address the real issue of producing people that can feed themselves without government help. If anything, they seem designed to build government dependence."
This too is wrong, on sveral counts in both the U.S. and Latin American context. Focusing only on the Latin American context, Brazil's Bolsa Familia is a welfare program that targets the immediate impact of poverty through direct cash subsidies, and helps break the inter-generational cycle of poverty through additional conditional subsidies that pay poor families to keep their kids in school.
Bolsa Familia has its critics, but all the credible studies of its impact infer that the vast majority of the subsidies are used by the recipients to buy food, and that most the remainder is spent on school supplies, clothing and shoes. "In a survey of Bolsa Familia recipients, 82.4% reported eating better; additionally, it was reported to increase the incomes of the poorer families by about 25%."
According to the World Bank, the Bolsa Familia does not foster dependence. "Adult work is not impacted by income transfers. In some cases adults will even work harder because having this safety net encourages them to assume greater risks in their activities."
Since Bolsa Familia is so successful, why doesn't the FSLN use something like it to replace Hambre Cero with all its faults and failures? Your guess is as good as mine.
"... lack of sufficient government organization and help and the US-backed war."
This is a typo. I am sure Fyl meant to write ... US-, Cuba- and Soviet-backed war."
Ration card = Tarjeta de damnificados ?
After the earthquake of '72 there was a temporary relief for those affected by the quake. A ration card was given to each household . We had returned to Chinandega and qualified for the program. This was one of the few programs that Somoza didn't get his hands on completely and it was not initiated by him. Maybe, but I doubt it, this was before my time, but I've never heard any of my family elders mentioned anything like that. I was aware of programs to help the poor through the Alianza para el progreso, an American initiative. I was in 3rd grade and we participated in health and nutrition outreach programs . Powder milk called leche clin, I guess it meant clean, and oral higiene. On a big board toothbrushes hung from nails with designated numbers. After drinking one glass of leche clin get your toothbrush and the teacher would dispense the toothpaste and brush your teeth. This I'm sure was not initiated by Somoza. Those older Nicas that wax nostalgic of Somoza are either blinded by their hatred of the Sandinistas or were partakers of the gravy train with Somoza, much likethose sympathizers of the Sandinistas. Their reality and memory is clouded by their political affiliation.
Ration cards
The people I spoke to say they recall the ration system was still underway during the height of the revolutionary conflict and that you had to go to local National Guard outpost to get the cards, which would indicate some level of Somozista involvement. They also say the Sandinistas invoked their own ration card system when they took power, and all that really changed was that you had to go to the local Sandinista CDS club to get them.
"Those older Nicas that wax nostalgic of Somoza are either blinded by their hatred of the Sandinistas or were partakers of the gravy train with Somoza."
The people I've talked to about Samoza's ration system are working-class FLSN supporters. Also, I've heard several other older FSLN supporters "wax nostalgic" about certain Somoza regime practices, such as taking habitual thieves and drug dealers out to the garbage dump and putting bullets through their head.
Rather than highjack this thread by turning it into a discussion about nostalgia for the Somoza days, I'll start a new thread with that title in order that this thread can return to its original topic, the Zero Hunger program and alternatives.
A better approach could be..
Sr Ortega and all the thieves that are still alive, his brother, Aleman,and Borge just to name a few, should turn over all the money they've stolen from the country. Since finding religion, Sr Obando should guide his star devout Ortega to follow more the teachings of their saviour not just pay lip service and do the minimum to showcase his piety. Seriously, we are talking about Nicaragua . I was commenting to a close friend, he served in the army and Is a staunch supporter of the FSLN, but not of Ortega. He spent 3 years in the mountains during the contras war and did a lot of talking himself to the peasants. Then he said the peasants weren't in desperate need of a ' sistema ideologico ' but a change from the sistema feudal, from the terratenientes and the predatory banks ( read Somoza ) to a more realistic capitalist system. They envisioned themselves then, and I believe now, as small but proud and independent owners of their land and their products they could offer to the best bidder. The campesino doesn't dwell on intangibles as the intellectuals do. I believe, strongly, that the Sandinistas waisted a golden opportunity. After throwing Somoza out, a must, their emphasis should have been education. Technification of the masses in the cities and the fields instead of indoctrination. The west would be more invested in Nicaragua creating jobs above the service industry and 20th century farming industry that is still the norm. Instead of Nicas going abroad, to Costa Rica ( how bad can things be ) or if you can afford and risk the trip to the USA looking for better paying jobs it would be other way around. The more educated the people the better their lives can become. I'm not saying perfect but better. And as a result of that the more people would become involved, voluntarily, in social programs to help those struggling to make it out of poverty. We need, as we say, to Parar la Carreta. But this takes much work and effort and commitment and Honesty that is easier for our 'leaders' to take the easy way out. Here have this pencils, notebooks and books and teach yourself to read and write. All that money and effort they put up to remain in power could be put to better use by creating more and better schools for everyone. The jobs will follow. 32 years down the drain. A whole generation lost to the same old BS. Our ignorance is their gain. What a shame.
Zapoyal
I think that was really well put. You can tell you are a Nicaraguan. What does "Parar la Carreta" mean for Nicaraguans? Your so right to emphasise education. It's best subjugated by the elite..so called. Real shame., the political system, childish, Politics as a force for the good in Nicaragua instead of and rather than a way of getting ahead personally. Its bad habit and Tough call when power corrupts. I'm taking liberties here, Thanks for your passion. it's just that there are a lot of countries in the same boat as Nicaragua. The other sad thing must be a "Nica" from the outside that can't make change to his country. There you go..a place for you in semi-retirement. Teach some kids in Nicaragua, political science,history and balanced government. You could.
Parar la carreta.
Literally it means to stop the wagon. Figuratively it applies to any situation that has gotten out of hand. Thanks for the compliment. Teachers aren't appreciated as they deserve.
few words
whatever initiative to reduce poverty and improve life of Nicaraguans. is good.
Problem is that is use for other gains, right here your description of the theme is like the FSLN (just using the 4 letters in your post) is giving manna to the people.or has made a miracle.
This program like many governments initiatives ,have a big success according to the propaganda. But coincidence that one friend mine , was hired to make a study about the impact of the program in the north. He find out that must of the people, sold, ate or lose the cows, pigs and chickens, for different reason ;necessity, animal sickness, food shortage for feed the animals, government interruption of the technical assistance and lack of responsibility.
But also the study show that the program was aimed to areas where the government have major influence, (a kind of consolidation of the party).
The other important outcome was, that the results of the study were concealed and replaced with fixed numbers and opinions. (something that the press have experience and knowledge , like government info presented to certain international bodies).
But if history is bringing into discussion, will be good to look at the Agrarian Reform impulsed by Somoza in the 60's and 70's, and many programs the government had. But for analyzing that, you must set your mind 40 years back...not make comparisons with what either have been a real success.
In the end what must analyst coincide is, that must government programs have a political and ideological goal, that undermine the real objective.
PS: Sorry if you take this like " a party line discussion", but in the electoral campaign that is already ahead for the government party, is almost impossible consider this post , just like a merely academic discussion.
Party Line
You are suggesting that Hambre Cero is political. Of course it is. You will be hard pressed to find a government program in any elected government that is not politically motivated. Beyond that we see the king of Saudi Arabia making concessions that are politically motivated&#it's just that politics is very different in flavor in an absolute monarchy.
This is exactly why I tried to confine the question to what might be a better approach to lower poverty. Now, if you feel Somoza's programs did a better job, great. Tell us about them and what made them more successful.
SORRY
"not make comparisons with what either have been a real success." i tried to write "not make comparisons with what either have not been a real success"
I'm not Somoza fan, i have my own father and 6 more members of my family assassinated for that regime. I just make parallels in what is a history Déjà vu.
This is gonna be like talking about
Cuba but not mentioning Castro!! (see your comment: "Rather than have a party line discussion about it")
The government were even out of touch with their own country when in 2007 they started the program off in Raití, Jinotega (to avoid the press). They gave a cow, pig, hens and a rooster along with seeds, corral materials, training, etc. They really did use the phrase "eradicating hunger and malnutrition" a tall order.
However the beneficiary families in Raití rejected the cows, requesting short-haired sheep instead, and also asked for assistance to cultivate cacao rather than basic grains. Their main request is to “save the Río Coco,” on whose shores they have historically built their communities, but which is now shrinking due to encroaching deforestation.
Ortega declared that the initiative gives Nicaragua “moral authority” to negotiate with the IMF.
The answer IMO is more education. The government needs to understand more about the real issue let alone how to solve it (the gift of a pig and the chickens is like giving them a fish instead of teaching them to fish).
The food growers need education and help in what to grow (the Millennium Account was doing that very well in Chinandega)
Finally, the people need education in nutrition (presto, milk and 'pan simple' fills a stomach for a couple of hours but does not make a child grow.)
Nicaragua does not have a gardening problem (as in inner cities with no places to grow), it has a gardener problem. That is; one 1,200 pound pig roaming around a manzana of land and a starving family on the porch watching it.
We were the breadbasket of Central America. The ground didn't get trampled on, the peoples 'will' did.
Even Tzarist Russia, when it freed the serfs, thought communal
For some reason, non-farm people tend to be more enthusiastic about collaborative ways of farming (including having hired hands by the dozens) than farm people are (tenants can be a liability).
The hair sheep (short haired sheep) make more sense for a small family than do cattle, and I suspect the price of lamb when marketed is higher than the price of cattle (this is pretty much the case in the US). Wanting to grow cacao -- cash crops get people out of subsistence farming, which is far more romantic when observed from a distance than lived. My uncle asked what were the cash crops in Nicaragua, did they put food up for the winter (rice and beans get stored).
He also wanted to know what the terms of tenancy were.
Rebecca Brown