Inkao Peru is a company led by women that is dedicated to offering innovative and high-quality products derived from cacao and chocolate. But their work goes further, as they work hand in hand with farmers in the Apurimac, Ene and Mantaro River Valley (VRAEM) to promote the production of creole cacao as an alternative to illicit coca leaf cultivation.
Moreover, it is one of the 7 social enterprises that are part of the pre-acceleration stage of the Entrepreneur Fund, an innovation program aimed at training, financing and professionally accompanying Peruvian social enterprises.
Its work with the VRAEM Valley farming community
The VRAEM Valley covers several regions of the country, including Cusco, Apurimac, Ayacucho, Huancavelica and Junín. Unfortunately, this area is at a great disadvantage, with high rates of extreme poverty, poor communication services and serious problems in the health and education sectors. The districts with the highest concentration of coca leaf crops are Llochegua, Santa Rosa, Pichari, Vizcatán del Ene, Kimbiri, Samugari, Sivia, Canayre and Río Tambo.
Kimbiri is a district located a five-hour drive away from the main square of Ayacucho, known as the heart of the VRAEM Valley and bordering the Apurimac River. The area faces problems of precariousness and marginality, and there are conflicts over the drug trade. It is one of the most relegated areas of the VRAEM, which has led drug gangs to establish collection centers and cocaine laboratories. Despite this, the main activity of the district is agriculture, where coffee, cacao and commerce stand out.
Cacao cultivation, a sustainable alternative
Despite the difficulties it faces, this is a region with great natural wealth thanks to the cultivation of various varieties of cacao, among which creole cacao stands out, with an extraordinary flavor due to its cultivation in the company of fruit trees typical of the jungle, such as orange, star fruit, bananas, coconut, among others.
Inkao Peru focuses on transforming cacao into high-quality products, which has had a positive impact on the local economy and farmers’ lives. In addition, the company promotes cacao production and trade internationally, providing VRAEM farmers with a profitable and sustainable alternative to illicit coca leaf cultivation.
It is also worth mentioning that Inkao collaborates closely with the local agricultural cooperative CACVRA, whose members have obtained organic certification for their cacao plantations. It stands out as the first Peruvian cooperative to export organic cacao beans to Europe, having obtained the Fair Trade certification for cacao in 2003.
As part of its efforts to ensure the quality of cacao cultivation and planting, CACVRA carries out the cutting test, a visual analysis of cacao beans that is performed to assess the quality of the dried bean, identify possible defects and assess the degree of fermentation. Inkao provides guidance to farmers in carrying out this test, thus ensuring the quality of the crop, both for the export of cacao and for the production of their own products.
Cacao farmers are very willing to continue cultivating organic creole cacao plants in their different varieties. They have succeeded in documenting the varieties of cacao that exist in the area and continue with this work. Companies like Inkao share with farmers the demands of the market and techniques on how to improve the fermentation and drying processes carried out in the area.
The cacao beans are transferred to the processing plant that Inkao has in Mayorazgo, Ate, in the city of Lima, in which the company prioritizes giving work to women. The plant allows to process the cacao beans and turns them into chocolate coating, which is highly demanded by pastry chefs. In addition, Inkao has naturally sweetened and vegan products. If you want to know more about Inkao Peru, its products and its social impact, go to https://inkaoperu.pe/
