Alpaca

Problematic: Peru has the world's largest population of alpacas, with nearly 3 million copies, and two domesticated varieties: Suri and Huacaya. The huacaya breed has short, curly fiber, and are the majority. The breed suri lives almost exclusively in Puno and its population is declining, so we run the risk of losing its fine, silky fiber up to 40 cm long. Today, due to the lack of management, predominantly white and many alpacas stained. The loss of the fineness of the alpaca fiber must be resolved with proper management, given that the price is closely related to their quality.

Handling: It is urgent to select alpacas in different herds, according to their colors, avoiding the junction with the spotted or "moromoros" in order to improve the quality of their fiber. Another option for the management of the alpaca is a cross between female alpaca fiber vicuna thick with males in order to obtain very fine fiber pacovicuñas. But for this we must bear in mind that these hybrids, despite being fertile, not permanent, and if they return to cross between alpaca and vicuña.

Proposal: To promote the breeding, selection and management of alpacas.

Sectors: Agriculture, Private Sector and Communities.

Experience: Throughout the Peruvian highlands.

Priority Areas: Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Apurimac, Arequipa, Puno, Cusco, Junín, Lima and other departments.

Warranties: The legal framework that guarantees contracts between the state and highland communities own the land suitable.

Benefits: Economic: If you improve the fineness of the alpaca fiber is used in integral form this species (fiber, leather and meat) and its transformation activity would be a $ 50 million annually. Ecological: The characteristics of alpaca help control desertification in the high Andes and that does not erode the soil by trampling, given that the feet have a padded floor and nail or helmet does not touch the ground. Social: One of the few opportunities to improve the poverty conditions of the highland communities along with tourism, mining and aquaculture.