Peru’s National Competitiveness and Productivity Plan 2030 recognises climate change as one of the main threats it faces. Promoting access to information and informed action is therefore strategic, and so Peru has created agroclimatic management platforms to achieve climate-sustainable agriculture, aiming at reaching 12 such platforms nationwide by 2030. The Resilient Andes project is supporting the Economic Studies Department of the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development in strengthening this model platform in Ácora, Puno and supporting its scaling-up in other areas of the country, in the framework of Peru’s nationally determined contributions (NDC) for the sector.
Puno is one of the most diverse regions of Peru and one of the most vulnerable to climate change. The Agroclimatic Management Platform (PGA) in the district of Ácora in the altiplano area of Puno is the second climate governance platform set up in the country. It works at local and regional level, coordinating with the Ácora District Municipality, the Regional Agriculture Department (DRA) of the Puno Regional Government, the Regional Agriculture Management Committee (CGRA), the Regional Department of the National Meteorology and Hydrology Service (SENAMHI) in Puno and the decentralised units of the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Irrigation (MIDAGRI). The platform addresses the challenges of climate change Peru is currently facing, facilitating dialogue and disseminating information on how climate affects the agricultural sector, to prevent the effects of climate variability in the altiplano.
To create this management model, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) held one-day dissemination and advocacy events to inform 168 people about the importance of the use of agro-climatic information throughout Ácora. This ended with the creation of a steering committee with the participation and commitment of 33 leaders of agricultural producer associations, community organisations, peasant communities, agricultural agencies and the local government in the district.
The steering committee seeks to strengthen climate knowledge in the territory. Through its local leadership, its role is to articulate, disseminate and raise awareness of the opportunity and benefits of learning and sharing agro-climatic knowledge with agricultural producers for preventing and adapting to climate change.
From 2021 – 2022, by disseminating the activities and results of the PGA Ácora, the Resilient Andes project has supported progress in strengthening multi-stakeholder governance channels, in improving policies and strategies, in strengthening the capacities of officials and technicians, and in generating technical and management tools through the following activities:
Disseminating district level agro-climatic information for decision-making and agro-climatic forecasts for the most important crops in the Puno region, produced by SENAMHI. Together with the Economic Studies Department (DEE) of MIDAGRI, the project supported the design and development of «Radar Agrario«, a radio spot on Ácora’s Radio La Poderosa, which ran once a week from September to December 2021. Agricultural producers, local and national technicians from the agencies involved in the PGA Ácora took part. The project also produced and broadcast radio spots in Spanish and Aymara on the role of the PGA Ácora.
- Local climate change diagnostic, identifying key actors (public and private agencies and agricultural organisations), considering interests and needs and the potential application of agro-climatic information.
- Strengthening the organisational structure of the PGA Ácora with workshops for members of the steering committee, to enhance collective climate action through local empowerment to make the platform sustainable. At the same time, SENAMHI held two workshops and an information session for 64 participants, including 23 women, with the PICSA methodology (Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture).
- Partnering in advocacy for the regional recognition of the PGA Ácora with the aim of declaring local and provincial Agroclimatic Management Platforms of interest in the Puno region, and promoting its implementation, operation and sustainability through the enactment of a Regional Ordinance (to date pending approval).
- Implementing participatory methodologies for strengthening organisational and technical capacities, including a diagnostic of the use of integrated meteorological, hydrological and agricultural information for men and women producers in the town of Ácora, Puno. As a result, there are 10 sheets of agricultural practices for adaptation to climate change that describe each practice, the technical advantages it offers, the costs involved and its profitability.
The infographic about the Agroclimatic Management Platform in Ácora can be downloaded in the following link
About Andes Resilient to Climate Change
Climate Resilient Andes is a regional project, supported by SDC and facilitated by the Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation-Avina Foundation consortium in partnership with the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). It is part of the SDC’s Global Climate Change and Environment Programme.
Source: Andes Resilient to Climate Change
For further information:
Brochure Andes Resilient to Climate Change Regional Project (spanish)
FS Andes Resilient to Climate Change Regional Project
Brochure Andes Resilient to Climate Change Regional Project – Peru (spanish)
Facebook Andes Resilient to Climate Change Regional Project