Saturnino Quispe Boza: alpaca herder upholds tradition in Peru’s highlands
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Saturnino Quispe Boza, over 60 years old, lives on the slopes of Cerro Huamanrazu in Huancavelica, Peru, where he cares for around 200 alpacas inherited from his family.
Quispe Boza and his wife moved to the area, ascending to over 4,750 meters in altitude, to manage the herd. He prioritizes the alpacas’ well-being, focusing on their food and water, and works with the Association of Producers of Cerro Huamanrazu to improve their grazing lands.
The Association, comprised of ten families, has secured 50 hectares of pastureland and fencing with support from international cooperation via platforms like GoFundme. This has led to improvements in the health of approximately 450 alpacas in the area. Quispe Boza and the Association now aim to process alpaca fiber, skin, leather, and meat to reach wider markets.
Quispe Boza envisions a larger development project in the Andes to industrialize camelid products and attract tourism, allowing visitors to experience the alpacas and the high-altitude landscape. Peruanos que Suman, a social initiative by El Comercio newspaper and Banco de Crédito del Perú (BCP), is currently in its third edition, recognizing people who positively impact their communities.
