Watch the video to hear the story of Farfan directly from members of this small settlement community in Veraguas, Panama:
Farfan, Veraguas
Just a few kilometers before arriving to Lago Bay, you'll pass through the small town of Farfan. A keen observer will note that the look and feel of the town is slightly different than most that they had passed on the way.
Farfan is classified as an 'asentamiento' here in Veraguas, Panama. An asentamiento is basically a social-economic agrarian settlement and if you looked up a direct translation...google would tell you 'settlement'.
These settlements were formed during much of the second half of the 1900's here in Panama in order to efficiently and rationally appropriate farmland for collective use in rural areas of Panama. The aim of the government in the forming of settlements was to also technically and financially assist with modern farming production techniques.
An 'Asentamiento' or Settlement in rural Panama
In order to help optimize some of Panama's most remote farming and ranching. lands were often awarded by the State along with certain subsidies. Loans were also usually part of the assistance package in order for the settlements to acquire farming equipment that could otherwise be difficult to attain.
Often times, as in the case of Farfan, agrarian production boards and a general assembly were formed in order to structure the settlement into a working legal entity with all members having participation regarding assets like the machinery use, equipment, livestock, and food production.
Currently Panama has 163 Agrarian settlements in the country that are at least partially functioning. Farfan is counted among the fully-functioning settlements and is a good example of rural communal living. The Farfan settlement produces a significant amount of rice and beef for the province of Veraguas. It's members are involved, acitive and productive.
Farfan is only 3 kilometers from Lago Bay. The residents of Farfan are hardworking and friendly neighbors that have often lent a hand in various tasks at Lago Bay. I've never seen more capable fence repair crews. The machete is also an important part of a general maintenance plan here in the tropics. Several guys from the settlement will come and help with various tasks, especially for planting and maintaining Lago Bay's permaculture fields. We have also asked the help of Cuba, the tractor driver, for his expertise when in a pinch at the airstrip. In all, I'm very grateful that we at Lago Bay have such good neighbors.
Saludos from Lago Bay!!
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