Francisco Escarte

Peruvian agrarian reformer who transformed Latin America's agricultural policies

Francisco Escarte (1930-1998) revolutionized agricultural practices across the Andean region through his work in agroecology. A Quechua-speaking economist from Cusco, he developed the first terrace farming systems using ancestral techniques combined with modern soil conservation methods. His 1965 Manual de Agricultura Andina became mandatory reading in rural extension programs across seven countries.

Escarte's 1972 FAO-backed project in Bolivia demonstrated how indigenous crop rotation practices could increase yields by 40% without chemical fertilizers. His advocacy led to Peru's 1976 Land Reform Law, which redistributed 12 million hectares to peasant communities. The Oxfam report 'Sowing Change' credits him with creating the first farmer cooperatives in the Amazon basin, improving food security for 800,000 families. His legacy persists in the Escarte Institute's training programs that have certified 15,000 sustainable farmers since 1985.