Development of small-scale agriculture

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Argentina : Development of small-scale agriculture in the Yungas region

Project for promoting the local economy, preserving biodiversity and improving income and living conditions for local people.

Field Trip - August 2011

The Yungas are subtropical forest areas inscribed on the UNESCO list of biosphere reserves and represent 50% of Argentina’s biodiversity – 1.3 million hectares of forest, and home to 35,000 indigenous people in 294 different communities.

Carrefour Foundation, in collaboration with PlaNet Finance Argentina and the Pro Yungas association, aim to promote and preserve the Yungas region by providing technical and operational assistance to small-scale producers (of wool, honey, etc), as well as helping to market their produce, facilitating access to investment and setting up micro-enterprises.

This project will directly benefit the people of three communities – over 2600 individuals – as from March 2011.

In august 2011, 8 Carrefour employees participated in a field trip in Las Yungas. They lead various training sessions about Brand Identity, Self Initiative and Team Spirit in two local middle schools.

In 2012 will be launched the second phase of the project aiming at professionalizing the commercialization process of the Pro Yungas Brand, thanks to new training sessions, and the integration of young people to the existing productive activities. Th funds dedicated to microfinance will also be reevaluated, in order to improve the promotion of turism in the region.

Carrefour Foundation is also working with PlaNet Finance Colombia.