Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing food systems in the world and has been touted as a solution to several wicked problems, especially rural poverty. However, pathways between small-scale aquaculture and broad-based rural development remain poorly understood and empirical evidence of the theory working in practice is scant.
In Bolivia, a relatively new aquaculture system has been emerging over the past ten years that has generated strong development outcomes. The system has grown rapidly, generated economic and social benefits, and has become embedded in local culture and identity. A key contributor to the growth of the sector has come from the Peces Para La Vida project which has mixed Government of Canada funding with Canadian, Bolivian, and Brazilian expertise to support endogenous sector momentum driven by local actors.
In this paper we present the key strategies and activities behind the project and provide evidence of the economic and social impacts that have been generated. The approach includes appreciative and peer-peer capacity building, a focus on opportunities for women and blending technical and social innovation. The evidence is drawn from surveys and interviews with actors across the central Bolivian aquaculture value chain conducted over the past eight years. Key themes include environmental change resilience, economic growth, food security, and women’s empowerment, thus presenting a holistic view of rural development through aquaculture.
This paper provides insights about one of the most significant gaps in understanding the development of aquaculture: how to guide and support the growth of an emergent system to generate equitable and transformational rural development. Insights are valuable for actors and agencies seeking to leverage the promise of small-scale aquaculture for rural development into a reality.