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In the heart of the Andes, in Peru and Ecuador, the indigenous communities of Huancavelica and Chimborazo have much to celebrate today: families are able to grow and sell their own food, children are well-nourished and local indigenous organizations are helping family farmers preserve their ancestral cultures. From 2007 to 2011, FAO, in partnership with the New Zealand Aid Programme, launched the FORSANDINO project, which helped improve food security for around 1 100 indigenous families by strengthening local indigenous organizations and increasing family farming production.
Increased crop yields and a reduction in the proportion of households living below the poverty line are just two of the positive impacts of FAO projects in Peru and Ecuador.
The New Zealand Aid Programme and FAO implemented the “Strengthening indigenous organizations and revitalizing traditional products in the Andes” project in Huancavelica, Peru, and Chimborazo, Ecuador from 2007 to 2011. The overall goal of the project was to help improve food security for households in indigenous communities by strengthening their development and management.
By incorporating traditional products from both towns into their daily diets and selling surplus produce, families were able to reduce levels of food insecurity and child malnutrition, and increase their income.
“Traditional crops are important because they provide opportunities to increase and diversify agricultural production at local and national levels, thereby helping to reduce the Andean countries’ vulnerability to price and climate shocks,” said FAO official Salomon Salcedo.
Communities participating in the project are able to start new businesses and sell surplus seeds to government agencies and organizations.
In Peru, these communities have significantly increased production of traditional crops: quinoa by 329%, tavima by 172%, and potatoes, sorrel, and mashwa by 100%. Participating households have also increased their per capita consumption: quinoa by 73%, mashwa by 43%, and sorrel by 64%.
“Before we used to buy certain vegetables, but now we have our own organic vegetable garden and home greenhouse so we can grow and eat our own,” said Alejandro Quispe from the Peruvian community. Father Rumi.
In Ecuador, the project increased potato production by 140 percent, maloco by 156 percent, quinoa by 97 percent, lupin by 206 percent, oxalis by 124 percent, and machoa by 88 percent.
“Most of the food we eat today we produce ourselves,” said Manuel Paguay, one of the beneficiaries of the project in Ecuador.
Direct impact on food security and increased income
In Peru, the average annual net household income per capita of households participating in the program increased by 54%. The proportion of households living below the poverty line also decreased.
In Ecuador, the impact of the project resulted in a 7% drop in the percentage of households living below the poverty line and a 48% increase in annual household net income.
“We eat more and better now than before. We have learned to balance our diet, especially by consuming our own products,” said Alejandro Quispe.
Strengthening local organizations
Through the project, FAO is building on existing community development programmes to expand the participation of both men and women and enable farmers to gain better access to finance for their agricultural activities.
In addition to quantitative indicators, the participation of community members in various public spaces has also been improved. For example, in Ecuador, the Ecuadorian National and People’s Development Council established a Commission of Agricultural Wise Men and obtained legal recognition.
In Peru, committees for community development were established, made up of men and women with the knowledge and skills to lead communities in areas such as local planning or resource management.
In addition, local networks are established to exchange information and experiences in order to improve the quality of life, food and nutritional security of the community. One of the most common means is rural radio.
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