In just a little less than 2 weeks, I will be traveling to Peru with my great friend Jesse to study alpaca farming! Our project is funded by the Douglass Cater Society of Junior Fellows at Washington College and we're more than ecstatic to embark on such a great adventure. To learn more about the society, visit: http://sjf.washcoll.edu/.
The purpose of our study is to compare and contrast alpaca farming in the US and Peru. So, prior to our trip to Peru we have much to learn about US alpaca farming and plan to visit some local alpaca farms this upcoming weekend!
To understand what we're doing, why we're doing it and how we're doing it, please feel free to read part of our grant proposal below.
Description of our project:
Our project utilizes our individual areas of expertise to explore
both the economics and sociology behind alpaca farming, both in the United
States and Peru.
The first part of our project examines the young, but
increasingly popular alpaca industry in the United States. The alpaca did not
arrive to the United States until 1984, but has since developed into a niche
market, supplying consumers with an alternative luxurious, natural fiber and
owners with a unique lifestyle. To accomplish our inquiry, we plan to conduct
library research, visit two alpaca farms in the Middle Atlantic region, and
hold semi-structured interviews with their owners/operators.
The second part of our project examines the ancient tradition of
alpaca farming in Peru, where approximately 3 million alpacas (the majority of
the world’s 3.5-4 million alpacas) make their home along the Andes. For this
portion of the project, we plan to conduct library research, travel to Peru
over spring break in order to take part in a five-day alpaca course in Arequipa,
and hold semi-structured interviews with alpaca farmers.
Ultimately, we hope to compare and contrast alpaca farming in the
United States with its Peruvian counterpart. Although the goals in our projects
are overlapping, we will each have our own set of research questions, with Leah
focusing primarily on the economic aspect of the industry and Jesse focusing on
the sociological aspect. Some of our preliminary questions are listed below.
Leah’s
Research/Exploratory Questions
Overarching Research Goal: Determine the industry’s
significance to each country’s economy.
Basis for Research: Many differences exist between the
alpaca industry in the United States and that of Peru. In Peru, alpacas are a
mainstay in the economy and are farmed for their meat, leather, and fiber;
whereas in the United States, alpacas are farmed only for their fiber. Peru
exists as the main producer and exporter of alpaca fiber with 65,000 rural families
in Peru’s Andean region farming alpacas. On the contrary, alpaca farming in the
United States is a much smaller industry, more likely to be marketed as a lifestyle
choice than a profitable industry. Interestingly, despite its small scale, the
US subsidizes the industry. Leah will compare/contrast the industries on their
profitability, the demand for alpaca products, their export markets and in the
case of the US, the role of a government subsidy. At the end of her research,
she will draw a conclusion as to the sustainability of the industry in each
country.
Jesse’s
Research/Exploratory Questions
Overarching Research Goal: Determine the alpaca’s
contribution to a national identity as well as the personal identity of their
owners.
Basis for Research: Dating back to the Incan empire,
Peruvian alpaca farming has been both culturally and economically important for
thousands of years. A fact which has not been lost on the various conquerors who
have tried to gain control of Peruvian lands and their people. More than once,
the alpaca has become the target of mass extinction as a means of dominating
the rural people. For instance, in the early 1500s, Spanish conquistadors nearly
drove the species to extinction in attempts to subdue the native people. This
phenomenon also precipitated the exportation of alpacas in the late twentieth
century, when a terrorist group known as the Sendero Luminoso"
("Shining Path") tried to come to power. How does this rich history
shape the current role of alpacas in Peruvian households and the identity of
alpaca owners? How does this identity compare to the perceptions of alpacas
owners in this country?
Why Alpaca Farming?
Leah was the first to develop an interest in alpaca farming after
noticing the increasing presence of alpaca products available in the United
States. What especially piqued her interest was the fact that alpaca farming in
the United States was subsidized. She couldn’t help but wonder, why? As close
friends, Leah spoke of her interest with Jesse and the project began to spawn.
I am so excited to start learning more about the intriguing and quite fascinating alpaca industry. Please stay tuned for more information as I research, meet with US farmers, travel to Peru and share my experiences! Stories, pictures and (hopefully) some videos will be shared!
-Leah
