Business boost to beat poverty in Peru

Farmers who had been struggling to make ends meet, growing barely enough food for their families, are now exporting produce overseas at a profit. Through simple training to improve the quality of their produce and setting up links with international exporters, our highly successful Redesa programme has made a dramatic difference to their lives. Child malnutrition rates are down by a quarter and the value of their produce – such as corn, milk products and beans - has gone up by an average of 150%. 

Now, building on the success of Redesa, we’ve begun a new focus this year. In parts of the Ancash region, where nearly 90% of the population live in extreme poverty, we’ve started a programme to link artichoke farmers with international markets.

As Alejandro Rojas, CARE Peru’s economic development adviser, explains: “We’ve identified a specific market niche for fresh artichokes in Europe and the USA where we know current levels of demand are not being met. Our aim is to link rural producers in Peru with these export opportunities and to involve private companies to help us to do this.”

33-year-old Roselda Soledad Figueroa Pastor is from one of 60 families benefiting from training in how to improve her crop of artichokes. Since the project launched in January, she is already seeing some of the benefits and expects to see even more in the future.

She says: “Before, there was no income and no work. Now since the project came, we’ve been able to earn more income and help our family. I’ve learnt a lot about how I can use the artichokes to feed our children as well as selling our produce. With the training we’ve had, we’re learning a lot.”

Gianluca Nardi from CARE’s Latin America team explains: “We’re acting like a broker between the exporters and local producers. The companies get a good price and a good quality product throughout the year while the local farmers are earning good money. Many are able to rent more land to increase the size of their crop and make more money.”