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LLAJTA JOCK

Copyright © José Luís Álvarez Ramos & Tom Lavers
November 2005

1. Physical description

Llajta Jock is located in the department of Huancavelica, at an altitude of 3,300m. The climate is varied, dry with strong sunshine during the days and freezing at nights between May and July, and a rainy season between November and March. Soils are a mixture of clay, sand and rock, as a result of deforestation.

2. Population and settlement

The community has a population of 212 of which 90% are Catholic and the remaining 10% evangelical. 80% of the population is bilingual in Spanish and Quechua, 2% (the older population) only speak Quechua and 20% (the young) only speak Spanish.
There are 44 inhabited houses, made of adobe and tiled roofes, normally with 2 floors.

3. History

Llajta Jock is situated on the land inherited by one of four children of a large farm owner. In 1976 the settlement was formally recognised as a ‘country community’.

4. Material resources

The main economic activity is agriculture and livestock farming. Animals include cows, sheep, pigs, donkeys, horses, goats and guinea pigs. There are both private and communal lands and there is work as labourers on large private farms earning S/.8-10/day. Some lands are irrigated and as a result can generate two harvests each year.
In the last five years there have been great changes in the farming in the community. Previously the only crops were barley, wheat, beans, peas and native potatoes, however, recently Huancas, people from Huancayo have bought land in the community and begun to grow a wide range of potatoes and started using a range of fertilisers, insecticides and fungicides that were not previously used. Many people from Llajta Jock now work as peasants for these farmers.
Cáritas is working in the community as a farming technical assessor, for example in breeding programmes of guinea pigs and the introduction of crops to improve the diet such as lentils, soya and flour. The government food assistance body PRONAA is also present providing school meals and there is a ‘glass of milk’ organisation which is present at 5 or 6pm in the community’s square.
There is no access to credit for the population from banks, however, loans can be obtained from the community, in case of emergency, and between families.
The community possesses plantations of eucalyptus which are sold when required and there is also a quantity of gypsum which can be exploited for the development of the community.
The main market for selling produce is in Alegria. There are also three small shops in the settlement.

5. Natural resources

There is a wide range of forest animals including birds, reptiles, arachnids and insects, as well as trees, plants and herbs both native and foreign. There are large extensions of farming and pasture land both privately and communally owned.

6. Human resources

There is an initial level education centre with 28 children and a primary education centre with 53 students. The community does not place great emphasis on education, preferring children to work on the farms and on Fridays in the weekly market. There is a shortage of text books and other materials and the rate of illiteracy is 52% for women and 48% for men. Many do not complete their secondary studies and some not even their primary education, with families often preferring to send them to the capital from where they can send groceries, clothes and money.
Rates of migration are very high, with destination including Huancayo, Lima and the central jungle where people go to work during the coffee harvest (January-March).

7. Infrastructure

There is a health post in the community, staffed with two health technicians, working in coordination with the health centre in Jatun llacta iskay. The most frequent health problems are acute malnutrition, pneumonia, bronchial infections, intestinal parasites and skin diseases. In women main problems include vaginal afflictions, inflamed ovaries and rheumatism. 70% of the population use the health post and the remainder use traditional medicine.
The community has had an electricity supply since 2003. The final 11km to Llajta Jock can only be made on an unpaved road from the paved central highway. The community has also built a track linking it to another nearby settlement. There are buses on Mondays and Thursdays.

8. Socio-political resources

There are no political groups in Llajta Jock. The community perceives itself to be unaffected by politics and views elections as an economic cost as they must travel to the district capital to take part. Politicians only come to the community during municipal or presidential elections and sometimes supply transport for the people to get to the voting centres with the hope of getting their vote.

9. Cultural resources

Several festivals have disappeared as a result of the small population and the costs of putting on the festivities. Equally many customs have suffered such as respect for the authorities and participation in communal work (faenas). This is thought to be as a result of migration from the community and the introduction of television which has led to many children learning bad behaviour.
To become a member of the community, one must be 18 years old and register with the local authorities. People not from the community must reside there for one year and their access is dependent on good behaviour and following customs. There are several communal working practices still functioning: ayni, reciprocal help between two people, minka, everyone working together for one person e.g. at harvest time, sowing season or building houses, faena, communal work for the benefit of the community, e.g. cleaning ditches, improving roads.
The community has a governor and a municipal agent, elected at a community meeting, and an irrigation committee which organises water resources with neighbouring communities.
Important festivals include Santiago and Jalapato in July, for which many migrants return home to Santiago from Lima or Huancayo.
50% of women are married with 45% living with a man outside of marriage. There is only one woman who has a position in the council and one working for Cáritas.

10. Additional Information

Detailed community profile in Spanish
Inventory of collective action