The Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and the United States Ambassador, Brian A. Nichols, participated in the launch of the second phase of the Peru Cacao Alliance, a public-private initiative supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), last March 7th.

Between 2012 and 2016 the Peru Cacao Alliance installed more than 28,000 hectares of cacao, supporting 17,000 smallholder farmers to leave illicit crops and choose alternative crops such as cacao. Its objective is to increase incomes of 20,000 rural families in San Martin, Huanuco, and Ucayali regions by increasing productivity and promoting private investment. In addition, the Alliance seeks to create sustainable value chains and rural enterprises.

The Peruvian President underscored the importance of organization of an industry to advancing sectors such as cacao. He said that focus must also be placed on coffee. He also pledged to bring important public investment to alternative development areas, particularly infrastructure and connectivity.

In the Alliance’s second phase the United States will give $25 million through 2021 and the 16 partners, $ 50 million.

Some important authorities that participate in the launching were Carmen Masias, National Commission for Development and Life Without Drugs (DEVIDA) President, and Lawrence Rubey, USAID Mission Director for Peru.

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