The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) signed an agreement with the government of Peru on October 11 to pledge $15.9 million in assistance programs for approximately 15,000 Quechua and Aymara. IFAD hopes to raise standards of living for the Aymara and Quechua by improving the quality of agricultural products and increasing indigenous access to national and international markets. The exact specifications of the project have not been defined; past IFAD projects in Peru included credit for small farmers, technology programs, and diversification of crops. The Peruvian government promises an additional $1.2 million in aid.
IFAD, created in 1978, is a United Nations specialized agency and works to alleviate rural poverty in developing nations and at risk-regions of the world. This funding initiative is one of seven carried out in Peru over the past two decades.
