Facts
Aims
The project aims to help peasant and indigenous families improve their livelihoods by protecting and restoring páramo ecosystems through the adaptation of production systems, and by developing economic prospects for the sustainability of their territories and the local indigenous population. In this way, it is hoped that in the long term, the project will help to reduce poverty and prevent the exodus of young people, particularly men, from their communities.
A cool breeze blows across the Andean highlands of the town of Totoras, perched at an altitude of over 3,000 meters, in the canton of Alausi, Ecuador. Wrapped up in their colorful capes, local farming families have come to visit the “Feria”, a youth-organized fair featuring local produce and animals.
A dream of healthy páramos
In the center of the square, Segundo Remigio Roldan Cuzco, mayor of Alausi, inaugurates the day: “It all began a few years ago with a dream that many didn’t believe in”. Around him, 300 heads of household, with wives and children, listen attentively, their eyes filled with stars. This dream is that of a healthy páramo, which will ensure the autonomy of Ecuadorian communities and offer a future for generations to come. It’s a dream that SWISSAID supports through its “Guardians of the Páramos” project.
Páramos are high-altitude ecosystems typical of the Andes. They are the main reservoirs of fresh water in the Andean countries and are home to a rare biodiversity. But intensive agriculture, chemicals and monocultures have weakened the soil. Water flows have diminished and the passage of cattle has polluted many streams. Finally, climate change is wreaking havoc here, as elsewhere: dry seasons are getting longer, rains are getting shorter and are often accompanied by hail, frost and sudden drops in temperature. The challenge now is for communities to adapt to these changes in order to live independently and limit the migration of young people to the cities.
It all began a few years ago with a dream many didn’t believe in
Segundo Remigio Roldan Cuzco is mayor of Alausi, host of the Feria organized by the region’s rural communities. He opens the day with a speech reminding us that communities must remain united in the face of adversity.
Parents and children on the same wavelength
Giant lettuces and cabbages take pride of place on the stand of 14-year-old Adriana Uscha. She explains the secret of these lush produce: “Agroecology workshops taught us how to grow and treat plants, and how to store them properly. We also learned how to make our own natural fertilizer to keep the soil healthy while keeping pests at bay.”
These workshops took place in local schools, using school gardens. Parents and children were made aware of the benefits of this sustainable farming method and learned the basics. This offers alternatives to chemical products to these inhabitants of the Andean plateaus, almost 100% of whom cultivate the land themselves. “Afterwards, most of the parents cleared a plot of land around their home to continue learning with their children,” explains Elsa Guamanshi, head of the community education center that runs the workshops.
Clara Uscha, 24, is one of the parents who have benefited from the workshops. She learned how to plant her own seedlings of local plants adapted to the altitude. As well as saving time – she no longer has to go into town to buy seeds and food – her crops are more resistant to the region’s climatic conditions.
Agroecology workshops taught us how to grow and treat plants, and how to store them properly. We also learned how to make our own natural fertilizer to keep the soil healthy and pests at bay.
Adriana Uscha is 14 years old and has been taught agroecology. Given the size of her cabbages and lettuces, there’s no doubt about the effectiveness of this technique!
Clara Uscha, 24, is one of the parents who have benefited from the workshops. She learned how to make her own seedlings of local plants adapted to altitude.
We’re in the process of planting seedlings. With what we harvest, we have enough food and we don’t have to go into town anymore. The plants have adapted to the altitude of 3400 meters.
Precious water
The project also supported the construction of irrigation systems to bring water from the nearby lagoon to the surrounding farms. Once available, the farmers learned to manage the water sparingly. “The project has helped us to manage drip irrigation, as we used to waste a lot of water,” reports 15-year-old Ángel Teriaguache. It has also been necessary to protect the watercourses so that the water delivered to the farms is not contaminated by livestock.
A dream come true
Between the stalls at the fair, laughter mingles with the voices of the children, who have become apprentice cooks for the occasion, as they treat passers-by to a tasting of often little-known vegetables. And it’s clear that the dream of Segumdo Cuzco and its entire community is on the right track. New generations aware of the beauty of their ecosystem, who now see a future in it. A community united around a common habitat, which they are discovering before it’s too late. And working hand in hand with governments and local organizations. “Like the ear of corn, when we are united, we are strong, we are brave, we are unbreakable”, concludes Segundo Cuzco.
And now it’s time to celebrate!
