Durango Colony (Paraguay)
Durango Colony, Paraguay, was founded 1978 by German-speaking Mennonites from Mexico. On arrival they purchased 13,400 hectares (33,000 acres), only to discover that some of the land had been sold twice. This led to serious tensions and uncertainties which had not yet been resolved in 1986. It appeared, however, that the colony would continue. Nineteen villages were established with 1,921 inhabitants, of whom 649 were members of the Old Colony Mennonite church.
The economic situation was very difficult. Soybeans and wheat were the primary crops, but dairy, poultry and hog farming were also included. A cooperative arrangement has been entered into by the settlers to provide a sounder economic base and the securing of loans.
The Mennonites in Durango are the most conservative Mennonites in Paraguay. Tractors with rubber tires are not permitted since they could facilitate contact with the "world." The settlement is located 310 km. (190 mi.) southeast of Asunción.
Bibliography
Mennonite World Handbook Supplement. Strasbourg, France, and Lombard, IL. Mennonite World Conference, 1984: 101.
| Author(s) | Gustav Reimer |
|---|---|
| Date Published | 1990 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Reimer, Gustav. "Durango Colony (Paraguay)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1990. Web. 19 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Durango_Colony_(Paraguay)&oldid=87120.
APA style
Reimer, Gustav. (1990). Durango Colony (Paraguay). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 19 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Durango_Colony_(Paraguay)&oldid=87120.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 5, p. 249. All rights reserved.
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