| The location of our Peru
project is situated in Cochamarca which is north of Lima about
3400m above sea level. It takes approximately 6-7 hours to
get there from Lima. Because of the rainy season during the
months January to March, the surrounding area is thick with
vegetation.
However even with the rain, there is hardly any edible vegetation
growing in the planting fields. The reason for this soil erosion
is a major problem in Cochamarca. The local villagers have
been logging the surrounding areas without any regard for
the environment. This situation has only worsened over the
years.
The crop levels are very low in the villages around Cochamarca.
The local villagers have been abusing the use of fertilizers
because of their insufficient knowledge and technology.
The local villagers get their daily water from the river by
boiling it before use. There are no proper toilet facilities
to be found. The poor sanitary conditions and practices (eating
with dirty hands etc.) have resulted in frequent outbreaks
of diseases among the villagers.
Faced with these problems, the villagers realized that outside
help was needed to help them change their existing situation.
Thus, this project plan was initiated with ICA Peru's expertise,
professional skills and knowledge as well as the villagers'
consensus for change.
The duration of this project will be 3 years. During the first
year, the project will be put into practice in Cochamarca.
In the 2nd year, the project will be expanded to include Cochamarca's
neighboring village, Colcapumpa, and in the 3rd year, San
Juan village.
This project will emphasise the conservation of the environment
and on improving the farming techniques of the villagers.
They will also be taught how to maximize their surrounding
resources to create more income (via produce) to improve their
living standards. This project involve 150 households directly
and 117 households indirectly. (Each household consists of
around 5 persons). |
Goals of the Project:
1. To decrease lumbering/logging in the surrounding forests
2. To protect the environment
3. To improve the soil and reduce soil contamination from chemical
fertilisers
4. To raise the villagers' consciousness about the benefits
of organic farming
5. To improve sanitary conditions
6. To increase the farming produce and the villagers' incomes |
 |
| Project
Plan:
1. Establish five 10 cubic meters Bio-digesters to convert
animal and vegetable waste products into organic fertilizers
and household fuel.
2. Improve the type of fruit trees being grown. At least 200
peach and 100 ponsiana trees will be planted in each village.
3. Plant about 300 ponsiana trees in parks or empty spaces
and 1000 eucalyptus trees on 3 hectares of land.
4. Hold training workshops on how to improve the soil composition
and how to utilize the machinery.
5. Build an irrigation facility for the nursery. Along with
this, a windmill water pump and a 150 cubic meters reservoir
will be built.
6. Build an electric system to power either a health center
or a primary school for the 3 villages. The electricity will
generated by solar or wind energy.
7. Build a water supply system. (30 cubic meters water storage
tank, water pump and pipes)
8. Build public toilet facilities. |
The view of Cochamarca village. The village
is located about 3400 meters above sea level. Around 220 households
live in this village. The villagers have long lived here from
ancient times. |
The view of Cochamarca's farming fields from
above. The primary crop grown in the fields are beans. However
the income received from selling these in the market is insufficient
for the villagers and hence, their living standards remain
low.
|
Drying on the roof of the house (bottom left
corner of the picture) are corn husks. Corn is the staple food
for the villagers. |
Despite the altitude, the temperature is quite
warm, about 11 - 22 degrees celcius centigrade. |
| 
The accessibility of Cocamarca is very limited
because there are only 2 buses a week from the city. As the
road is narrow and along cliff, it becomes difficult to maneuver
when there are 2 vehicles on the road. The road is particularly
treacherous during the rainy season. If a vehicle slides off
the road, it will end up in the bottom of the valley.
|
The peach trees in the village are affected
by disease. The peach in this picture has been half-eaten by
a bird.
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