Help llama farmers access water to improve pasture

* You may view the full report on the PDF document attached at the bottom of the report with full size images. 

Activity: Implementation of water collection systems to irrigate grasslands during dry season to improve llama nutrition.

Progress:  Water irrigation system was installed at the first beneficiary community Huacahuasi benefitting 35 families and 700 llamas that provide work opportunities through packing services that will help improve the quality of life of 158 people.

Coordination meetings: 

After the first meeting in which Guild members had agreed on the following steps:

• Identify a strategic water source.
• Reconfirm community approval of project.
• Calculate the amount of hose required.
• Choose which families would be the first to benefit from the water tank.

A second coordination meeting was held in Huacahuasi in which members of the Guild of Llama Breeders shared that after analyzing water sources and irrigation benefits, all members of the Guild had agreed by consensus that it would be best to invest the funds to access a larger number of hose length rather than the artificial water reservoir. The basis for this change was that they had managed approval for use of a stream of water that runs all year round and passed close enough to several of the homes of the Guild members, meaning that instead of benefitting only 10 families, the water collection through this stream and more hose length would benefit 35 families during dry season. Measurement of the hose path was taken and the date for installation was set. 

Delivery and installation:

All water irrigation system materials were delivered on May 31^st. Materials included 23,000 feet of irrigation hose and connectors. Guild members were extremely grateful and received the team with their llamas. After a brief ceremony of gratitude hoses were distributed to the project beneficiaries and each family started to test the irrigation flow and mark the path in which the hose would be installed during the next couple of days. (You may watch videos in our Facebook and Instagram pages).

Each path will collect water from the stream that has running water all year round and allow to irrigate the family parcels that have no water during dry season. This will allow for natural pasture to grow year-round and help llamas be stronger and healthier during dry season and possible droughts. These llamas provide work opportunities to the high-Andean families through packing services for the tourism industry. Income generated using these llamas will help improve the quality of life of 158 people. A visit will be coordinated in a couple of months to follow up on pasture growth.

Thank you!

Thanks to all our donors, we continue to work on our long-term goals to improve the livelihood of high-Andean families and protect our fragile mountain ecosystems by promoting the use of llamas as a sustainable, eco-friendly pack alternative. The implementation of systems that facilitate access to water allow the Llama Pack Project and llama farmers to overcome the challenges presented by Climate Change effects in mountain ecosystems.

We will continue to update our progress on our next report. If you have not yet registered, please make sure to sign up for our newsletter to receive news on the Llama Pack Project here: https://mailchi.mp/c09d3cf9c0e0/llamapackproject

• Report #2 (PDF)