Implementación de Sistemas Participativos de Garantía (SPG) en las regiones de Cusco y Cajamarca (anexo 22 del informe técnico final)

Date

2014-08

Journal Title

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Publisher

AGROECO Project - UNALM, Lima, PE

Abstract

The “Implementation of Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) in the regions of Cuzco and Cajamarca” report assesses the intervention of AGROECO in the field of alternative organic certification mechanisms to improve market access and product differentiation as drivers of food security. Findings are based on three years of field work, including 5 provinces in each region, and reaching out to more than 1,000 smallholder farmers with training on organic farming techniques. Highlighted results include the active involvement of more than half of them in the PGS peer evaluation mechanisms, and the handing out of 227 certificates of PGS organic guarantee to the first group of qualifying farmers. A key adjustment to the PGS model implemented in Peru: a provincial approach, reaching independently functioning PGS councils led by local authorities in 3 provinces and aiming at local empowerment. While sustainability is highly dependent on external resources and commitment of local authorities and support actors, uptake has been noticeable in certain cases. Despite market access being the main incentive for farmers to participate in PGS, the focus shifted from organic differentiation in the market to training and guiding farmers in their transition towards organic, as a consequence of local conditions. As such, results and a series of specific recommendations focus on PGS implementation, including social capital building, apart from analyzing preliminary results on linkages with market access and effects on food security.

Description

Keywords

PARTICIPATORY GUARANTEE SYSTEMS, PRODUCT DIFFERENTIATION, SMALLHOLDER MARKET ACCESS, ORGANIC CERTIFICATION, ANDES, FOOD SECURITY, ANDEAN REGION, REGION ANDINA, ACCESO A LOS MERCADOS, AGRICULTURA ORGANICA, SEGURIDAD ALIMENTARIA

Citation

DOI