The 19 families of the La Nueva Generación Agricultural Producers Association in Olleros are improving their food security and diversifying their livelihoods through the implementation of this initiative. “Guinea Pigs for Better Eating and Living”, supported by the project Living Basins to promote production systems that are more resilient to climate change.
The initiative aims to diversify family farming and livestock production, improve the availability of nutritious food, and create supplementary income opportunities for rural families, thereby helping to reduce their vulnerability to the effects of climate change.
As part of this initiative, 437 guinea pigs (323 females and 114 males) were purchased, transported, and distributed from the Tauripampa area in the district of Pira. Throughout the process, members of the association actively participated in the selection, purchase, and transport of the animals, strengthening their skills and their commitment to the development of the venture.
Members of the La Nueva Generación Association purchasing guinea pigs in the Tauripampa area, Pira district. Photo: Instituto de Montaña.
The delivery of the guinea pigs marks a milestone in a process that included the construction of family-sized breeding units, the provision of equipment, training in technical management, feeding, biosecurity, and animal health, as well as specialized technical assistance.
After the animals arrived in Olleros, each family placed them in their respective breeding pens, marking the start of a new phase aimed at increasing family production, improving household nutrition, and boosting the local economy.
In addition to its productive and economic benefits, the initiative promotes the sustainable use of the region’s available resources and fosters community organization, building capacity for the development of agricultural and livestock activities that are more sustainable and better adapted to the area’s climatic conditions.
Guinea pigs acquired by the La Nueva Generación Association of Olleros during the acclimatization and feeding process. Photo: Mountain Institute.
In a context marked by climate change, recurring droughts, and declining agricultural productivity, small-animal husbandry represents an effective measure for adapting to climate change, as it allows families to diversify their sources of food and income, thereby reducing the risks associated with dependence on a single productive activity.
The project Living Basins is implemented by Profonanpe, with financing from the Adaptation Fund, and led by Mountain Institute in the Santa river basin, in the Ancash region. Its objective is to strengthen the resilience of communities and ecosystems in the face of climate change, contributing to national adaptation goals.
