Cattle and goat farming in the Gran Chaco region have a significant influence on the local economy with a strong Creole presence. With the majority of women responsible for this task, livestock farming is crucial for ensuring food security and family subsistence. Additionally, an increasing number of indigenous communities are engaging in livestock farming, primarily with smaller-scale operations. Currently, most indigenous women have herds of goats, sheep, and pigs.
Livestock farming practices vary, ranging from traditional extensive and transhumant production based on pastoralism to more advanced experiences in both cattle and goat farming. Advanced practices involve improvements in management, infrastructure, genetics, and health. These experiences, found in Formosa, Salta, and Chaco, serve as a starting point for scaling the chain by emphasizing the lessons learned from a “Chaco” model of regenerative and sustainable livestock farming combined with native forests.
The strengthening of this sector is crucial for the sustainability of life in the Chaco communities.
Objectives
Through training and technical assistance, we aim to stimulate the development of new skills for production management and innovation within the productive sector. The strategy applied in the development of this program area is based on the installation of Intensive Production Modules (IPM), covering approximately 10% of the land. These modules are enclosed, equipped with water solutions, and include the planting of carob trees (a source of food for livestock and a soil productivity restorer) and pastures.
At the community level, infrastructure is facilitated for livestock gathering for associative marketing, as well as equipment and devices for livestock traceability management. The organization is strengthened, and business plans and revolving funds for the pre-financing of sales are developed.
In Argentina, Wichí, Qom, Qomle’ec and Pilagá women are leading initiatives that combine ancestral knowledge, forest conservation and innovation. Handicrafts, livestock farming, carob, rural tourism
The Gran Chaco Foundation is implementing the Indigenous Navigator Project in Chaco and Formosa, an initiative spearheaded by IWGIA and funded by the European Union
The Future Landscapes Project promotes an innovative training methodology in which producers, technical teams, and local leaders co-design the content, which they then replicate in
