Livelihood and transition to certified cacao production in the Peruvian Amazonas : gendered responsibilities in Irazola

Abstract: Peru is recorded as the second largest organic cacao producer and the second largest coca producerin the world. Consequently, the demand has made cacao an important alternative crop for coca.Cacao can just be grown around the equator and is therefore an attractive cash-crop for export tocountries in Europe and North America. Therefore governments, enterprises and non-governmentalorganisations are supporting organic cultivations of cacao.This thesis has the objective to find out the situation of the livelihood of cacao producers in theprocess of becoming certified cacao producers. What challenges and which hopes were consideredby the woman and man in the households? Would there be clear divides of work locations relatingto gender, and who was responsible for making the decisions in the family?By the use of semi-structured interviews and participating practical methods, ten families in thedistrict of Irazola in the Peruvian Amazon were selected. The study proved customary roles ofwomen in charge of domestic work, children and small animals while men were more oftenworking in the fields and going to meetings. Off-farm work for women was found to be selling foodon the main street, while men were driving taxis and worked as technicians. Decision and opinionswere more similar within households than between women and men as a group. Although men oftenhad the main responsibility over money and decision for instance to become part of the certificationprocess. The farmers - women and men - wished to grow more cacao trees so they could affordeducation for their children, a better house, move to other places, start a restaurant or shop.There have not been many studies of small-holding cacao producers in Latin America and thereforethis study is useful to draw examples from without making any generalisations.