Guinea pigs as a source of food and income in Ecuador
The guinea pig is increasingly considered as a fine delicacy in the Andes. Since the beginning of 2010, Trias supports ‘Señor Cuy’, a cooperative who wants to offer breeders of guinea pigs a better income.
© Trias
The Ecuadorian "Corporación Señor Cuy" is a young regional organization with more than 500 members breeding guinea pigs. The province Chimborazo, where Trias is active, counts already 130 members. Up to 104 of them are women.
Those 130 members have associated themselves, to offer a special product to the market: guinea pigs or ‘cuyes’ in Spanish. Guinea pigs are a true festive meal for people in the Andes; in Ecuador, Bolivia as well as in Peru. Particularly at special occasions, such as carnival, Mothers day, All Saints Day and Christmas, guinea pigs are eaten. They are also very popular during local festivities in the different villages and cities.
Every week, the members of Señor Cuy sell their guinea pigs together, to get a better price. Many women generate their own income for the first time. Guinea pigs breed very fast, which means a quick turnover for the breeders. Each producer can sell 11 guinea pigs every week, with a turnover of two dollar per guinea pig. The amount of their weakly income is thereby 22 dollar. For the rural women this is essential to provide for the care of their children and family.
Trias supports the development of the guinea pig value chain by training the breeders in several themes aiming for a better production, better processing and improved sales. Trias helps the target group with business plans for the small organizations they establish. Thereby Trias is also supporting the institutional strengthening of Señor Cuy, so they can be financially independent.
To reach this objective, the organization has set up a commercial department; a small business with a processing unit. Manager Hilda Lata sells her guinea pigs weekly to regular customers, so they can pay a guaranteed price. The shop mainly targets the sale of young living guinea pigs. The rest is sold to restaurants.
Meanwhile the processing unit is generously experimenting. Señor cuy wants to market different kind of products coming from guinea pigs: a whole vacuum-wrapped guinea pig, vacuum-wrapped pieces of guinea pig, guinea pig sausages and nuggets. The latter is very popular, especially with kids.
However, because Señor Cuy is financially not yet strong enough, Trias invests in improved production units, training and veterinary materials. This way a better production of guinea pigs is guaranteed. This is a well-considered step, because the meat of guinea pigs is very nourishing. It contains no cholesterol and is rich of proteins. No wonder guinea pigs are becoming more and more part of the daily menu.
This is a fine illustration of a product which generates a better income for the breeder as well as healthier nutrition for the consumer.