A Bio Business That Changes Lives
USAID supports economic sustainability in Peru through the use of traditional plants
“Inin means aroma; Rao, medicine.”
– Alemerce Amasifuen
Inin Rao is a natural products brand that uses the essential oil from a wild-grown Amazonian plant called “piripiri.” Alemerce Amasifuen, a 27-year-old farmer from San Francisco, a small community located 12 miles outside of the town of Pucallpa in the Peruvian Amazon, launched the brand in 2019 to save and propagate endangered plants.
As a member of the Shipibo – Conibo Indigenous group, Alemerce knows that the fruits of the forest must be protected. For this reason, and with her father’s support, she sustainably harvests the piripiri essential oil, which is considered by the Shipibo-Conibo people to be a sacred form of traditional medicine.
The native piripiri plant has piqued the interest of scientists looking to explore medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects. The plant’s potential applications in the food and cosmetics industry are currently under exploration, adding to its value.
Alemerce and her father with the piripiri plant and then extracting the oil from the plant.
Alermerce's connection to piripiri crosses generations. Her grandmother shared ancestral knowledge about cultivation with the family.
Her father also took on the custom of growing piripiri, thus promoting a sustainable and environmentally friendly practice.
Inin Rao emerged from that family heritage. Alemerce recognized the importance of preserving piripiri as a way to promote sustainable cultivation and avoid deforestation.
The spark that ignited Inin Rao's success
After completing her pharmacy studies in Pucallpa, Alemerce returned to San Francisco. She applied her pharmacy knowledge to her family’s piripiri cultivation business and launched Inin Rao soon thereafter.
Above right: Alemerce and his father with the piripiri plant. Above left: Inin Rao Piripiri for friendship helps improve friendly relationships. It has a fine wood aroma that calls us to connect with the earth.
The Alliance for the Amazon, a USAID activity implemented by Cedro NGO, provided the foundation for Inin Rao's growth. Alemerce received financial education and technical assistance to help her create a business model. She learned business management skills and received wheelbarrows and a grass cutter to help with the piripiri harvest.
The support did not stop there. Alemerce received valuable guidance in digital marketing and sales strategies, giving her the tools to launch a social media presence and sell her product at fairs
Alemerce receiving training in financial management and digital marketing.
With USAID and Cedro support, Alemerce has taken Inin Rao to new horizons. In just 4 years its essential oil and soap products have attracted high demand both nationally and internationally. For example, Inin Rao increased production by 360% in order to export 12 liters of piripiri essential oil to France and Israel.
Alemerce and a trainer from the Alliance for the Amazon looking at piripiri soaps and oil.
Alemerce dreams of using her entrepreneurial success to provide a better future for her two children. Her determination and dedication are a beacon of hope in the middle of the Amazon jungle, demonstrating that commitment to sustainable development can open the doors to prosperity.
“I am an example of Shipibo – Conibo. As an entrepreneur I can say that you don't have to give up. We have to move forward because it is our job.”
Alemerce says.
Alemerce is one of the 149 entrepreneurs in the microbusiness portfolio incubated by the USAID and CEDRO Alliance for the Amazon activity to contribute to the progress and economic and social resilience of the populations of the Peruvian Amazon, through legal, inclusive, and sustainable development.
ABOUT THIS STORY
The Alliance for the Amazon seeks to guarantee the sustainability of biobusinesses in native communities of the provinces of Atalaya, Coronel Portillo and Padre Abad, in the Ucayali region.
This will be achieved through sustainable processes and practices, access to inclusive markets, and the strengthening of a legal business culture, seeking to contribute to greater food security and economic growth with a market focus and resilience to face the climate emergency.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Daniel Posadas is the Communications Specialist at Cedro NGO, and Magali Ugarte is the Communications Specialist at USAID’s mission in Peru.
Photos by: Gustavo Carrasco and Roger Vela for Cedro NGO.