Alto Mayo Rural Development Project

This project helped improve the lives of 50,000 farmers in the Alto Mayo valley in San Martin department by providing them with direct access to credit and agricultural technical assistance, with infrastructure such as roads and social services.

Because of the remoteness of the area and the lack of basic services, the funds were used to provide farmers with access to roads and social infrastructure, and were invested in research and training services.

The farmers who benefited from the project were mainly small rice growers in a valley that is one of the most important rice-growing areas in the country.

The project also benefited drylands subsistence farmers and members of Aguaruna native communities living in the vicinity of the project area.

The project helped indigenous communities demarcate their lands and obtain title to them. It promoted social services, supporting bilingual education and a revolving fund for essential drugs.

To ensure sustainability, the project created a foundation managed by farmers’ associations participating in the project.