Soil erosion and declining soil fertility are recognised as problems in the semi‑arid valleys of the inter-Andean zone of South America. These have a particularly strong impact on areas of subsistence agriculture and contribute to poverty inducing processes. The mid-Andes area in particular, which includes Cochabamba and parts of Santa Cruz, is recognised as having extreme poverty in rural areas, made worse by land degradation and low productivity. The areas between 1 500 m to 4 000 m above sea level are characterised by a multitude of microclimates and low productivity associated with soil erosion and declining soil fertility. The time that land is left in natural fallow has steadily declined as more land for crop production is required. Therefore, there is an opportunity for using live barriers and leguminous cover crops to control erosion and improve soil fertility, increasing productivity and thereby reducing poverty.