A farm in Bolivia’s Andean plains grapples with hotter climateBy Santiago Limachi and Monica MachicaoORURO, Bolivia (Reuters) – Bolivian ranchers Elizabeth and Edwin Churata are learning how to survive in a drier, hotter climate. They are adapting new water-storage techniques as their traditional ponds dry up, and changing how they feed their cattle and sheep. In the past few years, the Churatas’ farm in the highland Andean region of Oruro has been hit by climate phenomena known as La Nina and recently the reverse El Nino, the strongest one in 20 years. Bolivia has seen major lakes decline, including the giant Titicaca, Lake Poopo and Uru Uru, which are important reservoirs of water for farmers like Elizabeth and Edwin. They have traditionally relied on wild grasses to feed their animals, burning the grass stalks and praying for adequate rainfall.
