Grau and Cotabambas are considered among the poorest provinces in the country. Both consist of a large variety of small Andean communities, many of which were affected during a period of political violence in the past decades.
Local governments require greater capacity in technical, economic and social realms to successfully face the challenges represented by decentralisation and fight poverty more efficiently.
The agricultural and livestock activity is for subsistence. The production of native potato is used as food and seed, and a small part is transformed into chuño (freeze-dried potatoes) and moraya for barter at local fairs. Also, the livestock (sheep) activity is developed under the free grazing system, with deficient feeding of livestock and overgrazing of natural pastures.
Their residents have the highest rates of acute and chronic malnutrition in Peru because of the low availability of food as well as the inadequate manner in which it is prepared and consumed.
Health centres lack appropriate service because of a lack of equipment, tools and skilled personnel.
Illiteracy rates in these areas of Peru are very high. Schools do not have an adequate number of teachers, infrastructure is poor, teachers do not have access to training opportunities to improve learning methodologies, and children do not have space for learning and entertainment. For this reason, the development of human capital is one of the priorities under the social responsibility policy of our company.
A significant number of local residents does not have a national identity document, which prevents them from accessing the various programs promoted by the State to fight poverty. Private and community property is, in many cases, not duly established or registered.