In the high Andes of Bolivia, llama keeping is an
important and integral part of the mixed farming
practised by rural households. Llamas provide
smallholders with dung, meat and fibre; they are used
as pack animals and also play an important social
role. Llamas, as an autochthonous species, contribute
to maintaining the ecological balance of the fragile
local ecosystem. There are two main types of llama
– the “Kh’ara” type, and the wool type known as
“Th’ampulli”.
The region of Ayopaya (department of
Cochabamba) where the breeding programme takes
place is situated at 4 000 to 5 000 metres above
sea level in the eastern Cordillera of the Andes.
Because of the geographical conditions and very basic
infrastructure, the region is difficult to access.
In 1998, a breeding programme for llamas was
jointly initiated by the 120-member local producers
association ORPACA (Organización de Productores
Agropecuarios de Calientes), the NGO ASAR
(Asociación de Servicios Rurales y Artesanales) and
two universities (University Mayor de San Simon,
Cochabamba, and University of Hohenheim, Germany).
Initial funding was assured by the above-mentioned
institutions. Continuation of the programme critically
depends on securing external funding