I read today that the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said that it had launched an emergency operation to save 18,000 Peruvian alpacas at risk of dying and endangering local livelihoods.

The organisation's branch in Peru has doled out 36,800 doses of treatment to alpacas owned by poor farmers in the country's highlands, where livestock are suffering due to a severe cold spell.

"Forced to go without food, perhaps for days at a time, their alpacas have become weak and susceptible to disease," said Marc Vandersmissen, FAO's Emergency Coordinator in Peru.

Cold weather arrived three months earlier than expected in the Peruvian highlands this year, preventing farmers from harvesting crops and from feeding the alpaca upon which many derive their entire livelihood.

The national government of Peru declared a state of emergency in 11 of Peru's 25 provinces in response to the situation. Funded by the government of Belgium, FAO's emergency relief came in the form of anti-parasitic medication, antibiotics and vitamins delivered between July 14 and 19 in coordination with Peru's National agricultural safety service.

Practical Action have been working with alpaca farmers in Peru for some years now. Practical Action technical staff teach locals about alpaca husbandry and farming techniques such as irrigation.

The training is delivered in Quecha the local language , the topics include general animal health as well as specific training for alpaca herders. This training takes one year and participants are given a certificate. Once trained, then they join the Association of Kamayoqs, which meets 6 times a year for 'revision classes'. About 240 Kamayoqs have been trained (approx. 20 -25 a year) since 1996.