The Altiplano, a plateau located at 3,635 meters above sea level, straddles Bolivia and Peru and is one of the poorest regions in the world. Agriculture dominates the local economy.

The project will benefit poor farmers in the Altiplano

A new project being implemented by CIP, with support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and others aims to increase farm productivity in the Altiplano. Main efforts will be focused on increasing income through higher agricultural productivity of potatoes, quinoa, oca, alpacas, meat and milk and by adding value through improved processing and marketing activities. Building on existing CIP work, local women will be organized and trained to take part in postharvest activities that add value to primary products. Other work will improve child nutrition and health through enhanced food availability, dietary diversity and nutritional education. Promoting the use of better agricultural technologies will reduce and reverse degradation of natural resources.

“The project will help to reduce poverty in isolated regions in the Altiplano, improve governance and promote self-sufficiency at the local level.” said Geneviève de Rivières, Canadian Ambassador to Peru. “As well, it will contribute to environmental protection and to the empowerment of women.”

The Altiplano is home to 6 million people, three quarters of whom live in poverty. Around 55 percent live in extreme poverty, facing problems like low agricultural productivity, natural resource degradation and marginalization.

"This work will help to reach the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations and—among other things—it will improve human health through food security and better nutrition," commented Pamela K. Anderson, Director General, CIP.

CIP and its partners have worked successfully in that area for the past two decades and obtained impressive results among the native communities.

“Our objective is to improve the livelihoods of rural communities in the Peru-Bolivia Altiplano,” said Hugo Li Pun, CIP project leader.

The project is working initially in 20 communities that represent 700 peasant communities, which in turn host 42,000 farming families. Strong links will be built with local governments and their research and extension systems, NGOs and other development agencies.