CAF promotes guayusa production for local development in Ecuadorian Amazon

  • 400 families in Ecuadorian Amazon will benefit from a project launched by CAF and Runa Foundation
  • Guayusa is an aromatic medicinal shrub; 95% of world production comes from the Ecuadorian Amazon

June 08, 2011

(Quito, June 8, 2011).- CAF - Latin American development bank - and Runa Foundation signed a technical cooperation agreement to implement a project for the productive inclusion of a group of 400 guayusa producing families, which will improve their income and living conditions. The initiative will create employment in Napo and Pastaza provinces and be a model of local sustainable economic development, which uses experiences and knowledge for replication in other sectors.

Guayusa is currently in heavy demand on international markets because of its use in tea and energy drinks due to its caffeine content, pleasant taste and gentle aroma. Ecuadorian Amazon supplies 95% of world production. However, the production chain has some weaknesses due to the lack of knowledge of producers, low level of integration between actors in the chain, and the small area planted which cannot meet demand. To improve this situation the CAF grant will be used to train indigenous growers and provide technical advice on implementing quality systems.

Krützfeldt Hermann, CAF director representative in Ecuador, said the project for productive inclusion of small farmers would promote sustainable agroforestry development in Ecuadorian Amazon, and improve the quality of life of the indigenous communities in the region.

Runa Foundation is a non-profit community organization established in Ecuador dedicated to the sustainable development and preservation of indigenous communities in the Amazon. It provides technical assistance to indigenous producers on implementation of agroforestry systems, organic food crops, forest species and medicinal plants.

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