GUINEA PIG MANAGEMENT MANUAL - Benson Institute

MEJOCUY
The project for the Genetic Improvement and Management of Guinea Pigs in Bolivia
(MEJOCUY) has 13 years of experience in the fields of: genetic improvement, nutrition, feeding,
guinea pig management, and small producer training. It has established lines of high output for
different bioclimactic conditions of our country. These actions give incentive to the
development of guinea pig culturing at a Departmental and National level and reaffirm
MEJOCUY as a center of excellence and a pioneer in investigation, production, and offers high
quality biological materials for guinea pig farming.
FAO
The United Nations for Agriculture and Feeding FAO executes in Bolivia one of the most
extensive field programs in Latin America. This program is possible thanks to the combined
efforts of the governor of Bolivia, Cooperation Agencies, Donating countries, and FAO. After
being established in the country, FAO, together with the governor of Bolivia, has done diverse
projects of institutional strengthening, agricultural development, and other with the intent to
satisfy the needs of the present and future generations through programs that do not degrade the
environment and that are technically feasible, economically viable, and socially accepted.
PESA
The Special Program of Food Production in Support to the Food Security in Bolivia is a program
as a result of following the agreements of the World Food Conference. It is directed to generate
food security improving the amount and quality of food, apart from increasing the income of
local producers. Presently, the PESA is in its pilot phase, which started with the Agricultural
Campaign in June of 1996 to June of 1997. Its activities were done in areas with under used
production potential that include El Valle Alto de Cochabamba, Valle Central de Tarija, and the
area of Colinización and Valles Mesotérmicos in Santa Cruz.
Benson Agriculture and Food Institute (BAFI)
The BAFI is a non-profit organization recognized in the United States of America as well as in
Bolivia. It has been in operation in Bolivia since the year 1981 working with educational
institutions that are working with the same mission and vision of the Institute, which is “help to
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