Improving Alpaca production systems in mountain rangelands in the Central Andes of Peru
- Boden und Landökosysteme
- Lebensraum und Landschaft
- Lebensmittel, Ernährung, Gesundheit
Abstract
Alpacas are an important source of income for many families in the Central highlands of Peru. Nevertheless farmers are facing many constraints and limitations in the management of Alpacas. The main objective of this project is to understand and describe the current prevailing production systems and identify possible intervention strategies for a sustainable development of the management. A dynamic and static characterisation of Alpaca farming systems in different locations in the Central Andes will be done. Then, a draft of conceptual model will be developed regarding the structure and function of the farming systems. Field visits, surveys and a series of workshops with Alpaca producers, local technicians and experts will be done. To ensure the sustainability of the project, farmers will be involved from the very beginning of the project in the research process, not only for providing information, but also as responsible stakeholders in the decision process. A sample of farmers will be included in a monitoring study to validate the information. A mixture of cross-sectional and longitudinal data collection is proposed to evaluate the herd performance and herd dynamics, starting with a given herd structure and observing a set of animals. This will allow the research team to interact on a regular basis with the farmers and learn more about challenges and limitations of the production. The monitoring study is also the entry point of researchers to discuss with farmers different options of community-based breeding programs. The consideration of the breeding program will not only include the community’s institutional setting but also the government’s plans and other key stakeholders such as on-going development plans and technical support services.
Project staff
Maria Wurzinger
Priv.Doz.Dr. Maria Wurzinger
maria.wurzinger@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-93001, 93220, 93414
BOKU Project Leader
01.04.2011 - 31.05.2015