mishqui-yacu, sweet water - IFAD

What Can We Learn from the CARC Project?
Considering the difficulties and fierce criticism that the project
has faced, today it is amazingly difficult to find critical voices. Much
of the present critique is not emphasizing any direct failure; what is
voiced is more the sense of disappointment that follows high expectations:
“It was not as revolutionizing as we thought it would be”.
“They hired more outsiders than locals”. “It is coming to an end just
when it starts to function and deliver”. “The dam of Culebrillas was
not built, but as long as CARC was here we had a hope, and they did
much for drinking water and irrigation anyway”.
Nevertheless, people able to participate in CARC programmes,
mostly farmers from remote areas, tend to be grateful for the opportunities
received:
A lot has changed for me through the project, this new way of looking
at things –how to live an organized life both as a person and
as a member of a group has had great importance for me. 122
It is strange, but I feel that my husband is supporting me. Gender
is gaining ground. We are more responsible as women than we
were before. Now husband and wife have something like an agreement.
We are making decisions together. Before there was much
discrimination against us women. However, men are now learning
to take us seriously. When we demonstrate that we are conscientious
and able to earn money for the household, we gain
respect. This is something we teach our children and it gives me
hope for the future. 123
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Anselmo Calló, a small farmer,
has introduced integrated farming
systems on his small farm