Transforming the VRAEM: The Land of Fine Flavor Cacao Project Overview

Project Overviews

Transforming the VRAEM: The Land of Fine Flavor Cacao Project Overview

Supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Lutheran World Relief implements a three-year economic development program in Peru called “Transforming the VRAEM: The Land of Fine Flavor Cacao” or “Transformando el VRAEM: La Tierra del Cacao Fino de Aroma.” Focused within the departments of Cusco, Ayacucho and Junín, the program accelerates the economic growth of the VRAEM region by strengthening the capacities of its farmers to grow, process and sell high quality cacao and other legal crops while elevating the region’s status as a sought-after cacao producer. Farmers will benefit from training in climate-smart agricultural techniques and post-harvest processing, as well as support in accessing export markets and obtaining higher prices for their crops. 

The Transforming the VRAEM project contributes to USAID’s objective of expanding economic development in Peru and builds on Lutheran World Relief’s decades-long commitment to strengthening cacao value chains around the world. Lutheran World Relief will continue collaborating with its established local partner – the women-led cooperative Qori Warmi – to ensure women and youth are an integral part of the project’s success. Additionally, the program will work with two new local organizations, Quinacho and Cacao VRAE, to extend programming. Environmental considerations will also be central to the project with the advancement of context-relevant agricultural practices and the utilization of traceability technology that closely monitors crop expansion activities to prevent deforestation. By fostering climate-resilient agriculture landscapes and supporting a sustainable cacao value chain, Lutheran World Relief is committed to advancing the productivity and wellbeing of farmers and their communities in the VRAEM for the long-term.

 

Download Now Jan 23, 2024