National Guinea Pig Day: Andean legacy and economic engine for 800,000 producers

Every second Friday of October, Peru celebrates the National Guinea Pig Day with the purpose of valuing its breeding as an economic engine and an ally for food security, due to its great nutritional properties. This productive chain is mainly family-commercial and brings together more than 800,000 producers from the highlands and the coast. Peru is the main producer and exporter of guinea pigs worldwide, with more than 25 million guinea pigs. Its meat is highly demanded in the international market, which is why its production has grown between 18% to 20% annually. However, the consumption of guinea pig meat in Peru is still low, with an average of less than one kilogram per person per year. According to data from the International Cavy Convention, the productive chain is mostly led by women and the main guinea pig producing regions are Cusco, Cajamarca, and Ancash. Other regions with significant production are Apurímac, Junín, Lima, La Libertad, Ayacucho, Arequipa, and Lambayeque. ...