Report on. Strengthening the Food Security of Alpaca Farmers, Peru

Transcription

1 Report on Strengthening the Food Security of Alpaca Farmers, Peru July

2 Analysis of the situation Small scale producers account for 85% of Alpaca production, with around 10% coming from medium scale producers. Some producers and private companies develop extensive semi-confined Alpaca raising practices and their production amounts to 5% of the total production. In most cases, small scale producers plots are no bigger than 20 hectares, with each producer having on average 100 Alpacas or less. Some small scale producers are members of peasant community organizations. Shearing is conducted in the farms with around 70% of the animals being sheared; 75% of the fibre is white and the remaining fibre is of various colors (black, grey, brown). Approximately 10% of the animals are destined to commercialization (selling in the market) or for self-consumption. Alpaca farmers have made it clear that their production is seriously affected by climate change as the pastures have dried up, water is scarce and forage production has decreased as a result of frost and drought. The current commercialization of Alpaca fibre does not take account of the interests of the main actors of the production chain, the Alpaca producers. Alpaca farmers continue to be overlooked and have not been able to overcome their low living standards (poverty, HDI/0.5). The demands of the market and the alpaca producers lack of knowledge and access to technology to meet these demands are the main causes for their lack of competitiveness in the commercialization process. The price of Alpaca fibre sold by intermediaries is 5.50 Soles per pound. With the implementation of local centers at community and district levels for direct commercialization of Alpaca fibre, the price per pound now reaches 6.70 Soles. These centres have allowed families to achieve more money for their product, which they use for buying more food. The alpaca farming families occupy more than 40% of the territory in the project region and the land is their main asset, apart from their animals. They farm at an altitude 4,000 metres above sea level. Small scale producers in high Andean regions rely on the meat, fibre and skin of their livestock for their survival. These products are exchanged through barter or directly sold in the market. The money they get for the products is used to buy local food, staple food items such as sugar, flour, pasta and oil, and clothing. However, this enormous farming potential is affected and restricted by a number of problems which are getting worse due to a lack of attention by the Government - which shows little interest in developing this potential - and to the effects of climate change. In terms of productivity, South American camelids are faced with a lack of high quality natural pastures, lack of water, new diseases, genetic degeneration, and farmers unequal access to water and pasture. As regards economic aspects, the low quality of the fibre prevents farmers from obtaining better prices and increasing their family income. In addition, the alpaca farming families are faced with social inequalities which prevent them from equal access to natural resources, resulting in isolation and poor basic services education, health, sanitation, electricity, housing. The families are faced with two options: (i) moving to the closest town, especially to meet their children s education needs; and/or (ii) migrating either temporarily or indefinitely to cities. 2

3 Practical Action s timely intervention responds to the needs of the South American camelids farmers. The project is implementing a sustainable rural extension system consisting of three components. First, the implementation of improved farming practices which allows alpaca farmers to increase their productivity and their income. As a result, farmers are able to buy more food for their families. The second element of the system is the training of rural extension agents known as Kamayoqs, local farmers trained in basic veterinary care, who provide training and technical assistance services in the communities. The project also promotes the day-to-day interaction of the communities with public and private entities, making it clear that development processes can also start in the communities. Another aspect of the intervention is the development of the capacities of local and sub-national government officials who give legitimacy to the development processes promoted by the project. As the processes unfold, these three elements will benefit the Alpaca farmer families. The project also promotes the creation of a macro-regional organization of Alpaca farmers who participate in roundtable discussions. This allows public engagement with Alpaca farmers in a more dynamic and functional way. Alpaca farmers attending training on developing their capacities for water, pastures and natural resources management and learning about climate change adaptation technologies. Project Overview Practical Action is working with 800 families engaged in the production of South American camelids and 370 local government officials in two regions of Peru (Ayacucho, Apurimac). Of the beneficiaries, 20% are women. The project aims to increase the incomes and ensure the food security of 30,375 men and women through the following actions: Improve the skills and the knowledge of small scale farmers for the production of camelids, management of natural resources, and adaptation to climate change. Facilitate their access to the markets. Training of rural extension agents (Kamayoq); 20% of the trainees are women. Creation of a macro-regional organization consisting of technical roundtables where farmers can discuss the situation of South American camelids in the Ayacucho and Apurimac regions. 3

4 PROJECT ACTIVITIES The project, through Practical Action s Technical Team and the Kamoyoq farmers, has provided training and technical assistance to 2,050 families engaged in raising alpacas in Apurimac and Ayacucho regions on issues such as management of water and pastures, animal health, food, and genetic improvement. This has helped to promote the services provided by the Kamayoq. The Kamayoqs also attended a number of practical training sessions reinforcing their knowledge and the skills acquired in the training modules. Flood irrigation Sown pastures Water harvesting The visits of the Kamayoq promoters to the alpaca farming communities and production zones in order to provide training and technical assistance services are monitored by a Practical Action technician. Such training and technical assistance provided by the Kamayoqs is a sustainable strategy that meets the demand for rural extension services in the communities and alpaca production zones which are far from the urban centers. The high Andean population, especially alpaca farmers, has quickly accepted the technical assistance services for animal health, livestock management, genetic improvement and construction of infrastructure. These services are paid or in cash, for example, farmers paid 20 cents (Soles) for a dose of an antiparasitic medicine, and for a dose of Ivermectin 1 they paid 50 cents (Soles). 1 Ivermectin (antiparasitic endectocide) is used to treat scabies in Alpacas and is applied by injection. 4

5 Through training provided by Practical Action, local and sub-national government officials now have improved capacities for rural development planning, promotion of alpaca farming sector (and other South American camelids), and management of risks associated with climate change. Coordination meetings (see photos above) have been held with the participation of government officials from the Apurímac and Ayacucho regions (Economic Development Offices), local officials (district/provincial municipalities), associations of Alpaca farmers, local NGOs, the Climate Change Adaptation Program and the Program for Non-financial Business Services of the Belgian Technical Cooperation. Macro-regional organizations of Alpaca and Llama farmers have been created where roundtable discussions are held on South American camelids issues and to build consensus. Municipalities, government bodies and private companies also take part in these roundtable meetings. In addition, in coordination with public and private entities working on issues related to South American camelids, the project has so far implemented six consensus-building technical roundtables. EXPECTED IMPACTS AT END OF PROJECT The project aims to have achieved by the end of its implementation: 800 families engaged in Alpaca farming have incorporated at least three practices for improved utilization of water and pastures under a climate change adaptation approach. 60 farmer producers (men and women) have been trained as rural extension agents (kamayoqs). The kamayoqs trained by the project provide technical assistance services to 600 families. 40% of the officials trained submit to their local or sub-national government at least one project that promotes alpaca farming practices. The sub-national governments of the Ayacucho and Apurimac regions discuss at least two policy proposals or instruments that promote alpaca farming practices, by the third year of the project. Creation of a macro-regional organization of alpaca farmers with participation of representatives of the associations in each district of the intervention. Two technical roundtables for promotion of alpaca farming practices are connected at macroregional level (Ayacucho and Apurímac regions) and have developed two policy proposals for the development of the alpaca sector, by the end of the project. 5

6 On behalf of all the camelid farmers being supported by the project, Practical Action thanks you for your support and interest in our work and for helping us to make the lives of thousands of poor farming families in Peru better. 6