[PDF] Community Development Toolkit - CommDev

CASE STUDYContributing to community health and economic development throughimproved agricultural techniquesXstrata, PeruSummaryUntil recently, the limited success of agriculture and cattle production has been one ofthe main challenges faced by the rural communities around Xstrata’s copper mine in LasBambas, Peru. Thanks to a community development program instituted by the company,local communities living near the mine are now benefiting from agricultural improvementprojects that they have helped to identify, prioritize and implement.Context and challengeXstrata’s Las Bambas copper project was the company’s first operation in Peru. It islocated at an altitude of 4km above sea level, between Grau and Cotabambas – among thecountry’s poorest provinces. Local government capacity in the area is weak, for examplemany residents cannot receive even basic public services due to a widespread lack ofidentity documents and poor land registration.ASSESSMENT TOOLSAgricultural production was being compromised by lack of irrigation channels, poorgenetic breeding and parasites. Sheep were kept under a “free grazing” system thatcontributed to overgrazing in several areas. The company recognized that there was a riskto its licence to operate if it could not demonstrate the benefits of its presence to thepredominantly agricultural local community.ResponseThe company’s community engagement team consulted widely in order to respond to localneeds. Communities agreed priorities for action in open meetings and the companyarranged for training as part of the projects. This included modules on capacity buildingand institutional strengthening. Projects identified through this process included:• construction of irrigation systems in Pamputa, Huancuire, Pallca Picosayhuas, Chicñahuiand Choquecca and a cattle breeding program• guinea pig breeding and the establishment of hydroponic pasture farms in Fuerabamba• trout farming in Pamputa.OutcomesIrrigation systems were constructed and healthy cattle introduced to improve the localgenetic pool. A disease prevention system was established to protect the new cattle.Local people considered this project important for improving nutrition and health, as wellas providing a potential source of income from the production of dairy goods.The local community also identified the breeding of small animals as an effective meansof improving family nutrition, and increasing commercial capacity and income generation.A pilot guinea pig breeding project was undertaken by 10 families in Fuerabamba to testwhether improved guinea pigs could adapt to the altitude and whether families couldeasily adopt the new techniques required to breed this type of guinea pig.Community Development Toolkit➜141