Sowing and Harvesting Water: New Water Project in the Peruvian Andes 

For many families in the Peruvian highlands, water is becoming an increasingly scarce and unreliable resource. Changing rainfall patterns, longer dry periods and increasingly intense rainfall are threatening the livelihoods of smallholder families who depend on farming and livestock rearing.

In the Challhuahuacho spring and watershed area in the district of Curahuasi, Apurímac region, the WasserStiftung is launching a new project for greater water security together with its local partner Caritas Abancay. Around 15,094 people in 15 rural communities and parts of the population of Curahuasi will benefit directly from the project.
Entitled “Sowing and Harvesting Water – A Community-Based Path to Water Security in the Peruvian Andes,” the project combines the protection of water resources with landscape restoration and more sustainable land and water use.

The activities include:
• establishing six protected areas covering approximately 700 hectares,
• implementing traditional water retention and infiltration measures across 86 hectares,
• producing around 180,000 seedlings,
• reforestation and revegetation across 202 hectares,
• training 614 smallholder families in regenerative agriculture and efficient water use,
• establishing a regional platform for improved water governance,
• training 80 local water-management leaders and 80 students as water ambassadors.

The project will protect sensitive spring and infiltration areas, improve groundwater recharge and strengthen communities’ resilience to the impacts of climate change. At the same time, it will promote local knowledge and shared responsibility for water resources.