Sierra Productiva – Pass it on – Alexandra Posada - Peru

27-09-2010

As a Latin American I am very used to big government solutions that fall far short of a country's needs. Peru's revolutionary agrarian reform in the 1970's was just that. Huge estates were broken up to give small plots of land to millions of poor peasants. But without access to markets and technological advise, owning a small parcel of land did not do much to help them out of poverty. Sierra Productiva has decided to do what the politicians haven't.

By introducing 18 different productive techniques to small farms they have radically changed the prospects for these small landholders all along the Peruvian Andes. I was taken on a tour of small landowners where each case seemed more inspiring than the next, the poor lady that has gone from milking other people's cows to an entrepeneur selling 300 litres of yogurt every day, the humble farmer who now works as a Yachachiq, a master farmer teaching others how to improve production, the young girl planning to open up a restaurant using artisan fridges and solar ovens to prepare her dishes, a man who had adapted terrace building techniques and uses his own height as a measure to build the perfect terrace and my personal favourite, the breeder of guinea pigs, an important source of protein in the highlands, who has found that putting on events such as make up guinea pig wedding ceremonies can add a lot of value to his product.

45,000 families are now part of Sierra Productiva, they are adamant that their techonologies, their knowledge and their community spirit will do what has not happened in centuries, break the cycle of poverty.

Posted by Alexandra Posada

Sierra Productiva – Pass it On – Carlos Paredes

21-10-2010

World Challenge offers us a brilliant opportunity so that the world may appreciate the role of yachachiq and the lives of 45 thousand peasant families who, by becoming entrepreneurial and innovative, are defeating poverty and advancing towards progress, in 14 regions of Perú.

The 18 technologies used in this project generate synergies which improve feeding, nutritional quality of foodstuffs, provide value added and income, improve health and encourage the use of renewable energy. As a consequence, education also improves, within and outside schools; there is a massive access to markets as well as positive effects on the environment, like the decontamination of fields, water and air; migration is slowed and, most important, self-esteem is improved and the inclusion of the traditionally excluded is made possible.

On account of the filming of the programme, Alexandra, the producer, had the opportunity of meeting and sharing experiences with yachachiq and families from two zones of Cusco, the land of Machupicchu, who are striving to change their future. For them too, it was an extraordinary experience to being introduced to such a modern and different but inclusive culture.

If we win the prize we will create a fund so that 56 poor families per year may get out of poverty, 560 families in 10 years. However, we do hope that this seed of solidarity from the world’s good people may multiply by a thousand so that in a decade 560 thousand families may progress and be happy.

Posted by Carlos Paredes