Fields Don't Close: Locally-Led Adaptation to Survive the COVID Lockdown in Rural Paraguay

In March 2020, Paraguay registered its first local case of COVID-19. Driven by the need to protect its population, the Government of Paraguay established a total lockdown with strict sanitary and circulation restrictions that lasted 45 days. Although this quick response allowed Paraguay to initially stand out as one of the most successful countries in fighting the pandemic, it also brought about harsh economic impacts nationwide.

In this challenging context, the Paraguayan Federation of Production Cooperatives (FECOPROD), implementing the Inclusive Value Chains Program, had to adapt their technical assistance to continue supporting small-scale farmers and womens' committees during the pandemic. Locally-produced food had to reach Paraguayan homes now more than ever, when imports were also affected by the closed borders.

Under the motto "The Fields Don't Close", FECOPROD took up the challenge of being the local leader needed to guide small-scale farmers and women committees in navigating the waters of the pandemic. Thanks to a strong adaptive organizational culture, and unprecedented levels of internal collaboration, FECOPROD managed to still reach beneficiaries remotely. Through virtual training, digital learning materials, and mobile-based assistance they helped beneficiaries also adapt to continue producing and selling with new very strict sanitary protocols.

Farmers continued cultivating, milking their cows, and selling their produce. Womens' committees starting using technology for the first time in their lives to reach customers' homes. CLA helped them to not only make ends meet, but most importantly, to stay on track on their development journey towards a better and more self-reliant being.