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5.1 Remittance Flows between Cajatambo and LimaLet us now consider a contrasting case involving remittances within thecontext <strong>of</strong> internal migration (Rodríquez Doig 1994). The study is unusualin that it identifies and measures the types, quantity and frequency <strong>of</strong>the two-way flow <strong>of</strong> remittances between a central Andean region andthe city <strong>of</strong> Lima/Callao. The highland region in question is Cajatambolocated northeast <strong>of</strong> Lima. The zone is predominantly a livestock and milkproducing area, combined with the cultivation <strong>of</strong> wheat, maize, potatoes andvegetables. It is located about a four-hour journey by road from Lima.In comparison with the Mantaro region, the area is much less diversifiedand dynamic economically and educational standards are also lower. Thereis regular migration <strong>of</strong> (mainly) young men to Lima seeking work andeducational betterment. Out <strong>of</strong> a sample <strong>of</strong> 613 persons associated withthe Club Juventud Cajatambo (Cajatambo Youth Club), 63 percent wererecorded as living in El Cono Norte de Lima among a number <strong>of</strong> urbansquatter settlements (<strong>of</strong>ten called asentamientos populares) that wereoriginally founded through land invasions in the mid-1980s.In 1989/1990 research was conducted to map and analyze the economic,social and cultural flows between the region <strong>of</strong> Cajatambo and the urbansettlements close to Lima where Cajatambo migrants live. Some 35households on the outskirts <strong>of</strong> the metropolitan area were selected fordetailed interviews, and various <strong>document</strong>ary sources were examined forinformation on the flow <strong>of</strong> goods, parcels and letters. Interviews werealso conducted with key traders involved in the commercialization <strong>of</strong>livestock and agricultural products. Finally, twelve weeks <strong>of</strong> messagesand information put out by a special “outreach” radio program (ProgramaRadial “Amanecer Cajatambino”) targeting people from Cajatambo werereviewed. The main results <strong>of</strong> the household interviews were as follows:Food products (or what the author calls “productos de subsistencia”)consisting <strong>of</strong> potatoes, maize, meat and milk products were sent by familiesin Cajatambo to relatives in Lima and the latter reciprocated by supplyingthem with a range <strong>of</strong> processed food items, medicines and clothing. 68.6percent <strong>of</strong> the sample said they received products from Cajatambo and74.3 percent said that they sent items home. In both cases these werefor direct consumption. Information on the frequency <strong>of</strong> flows indicatedthat 62.5 percent <strong>of</strong> households sent items every month (some as <strong>of</strong>tenas once a week), 8.3 percent once every three months and the remainder(29.2 percent) only at the time <strong>of</strong> Patron Saint fiestas and for New Yearcelebrations.55

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