Project goal

The project promotes and links tourism, organic farming and handicrafts in a long-term and sustainable manner. A total of 400 smallholder families living in poverty are trained in agricultural cultivation, handicrafts and marketing of their own products, thus increasing their income and sustainably improving their living conditions.

Virgin of La Puerta – religious and economic engine of Otuzco

Otuzco is a tourist magnet due to the year-round veneration of the “Virgen de la Puerta”. However, this favourable circumstance has not been exploited so far. Most families live from low-yield subsistence agriculture, in some cases supplemented by the sale of low-quality handicraft products or the provision of accommodation without meeting minimum standards of quality and hygiene.

Using local tourism

Through skills training, tourism is being utilised, increasing the income of 400 families by an average of 40%.In addition, networking and cooperation between small farmers’ organisations and producer groups with the regional tourism chamber and the patronage of the Gate Virgen are being promoted, and a tourist information centre has been opened. In addition, networking and cooperation between small farmers’ organisations and producer groups with the regional tourism chamber and the patronage of „Virgen de la Puerta“ are being promoted, and a tourist information centre has been opened.

Our local partner

MINKA Trujillo has been active in the field of promoting development projects in Peru for 30 years and works in particular with small and micro enterprises. The focus of MINKA’s work is on promoting ecological agriculture, handicrafts and rural tourism.