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.
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. It was 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.
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.
With USAID and Cedro support, Alemerce has taken Inin Rao to new horizons. In just four 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 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 the Authors
Daniel Posadas is the Communications Specialist at Cedro NGO. Magali Ugarte is the Communications Specialist at USAID’s Mission in Peru.
