Rehabilitation of pre-Hispanic terrace in the Peruvian Andes (ICARDA Caravan. (Jun 2002))

Over half a million hectares of agricultural terraces still exist in Peru, providing striking evidence of the achievements of ancient civilizations. Terraces formed the foundation of Inca food security, providing soils of good quality and moisture retention for the cultivation of maize, potatoes, and other crops. Combined with efficient gravity irrigation systems, they produced large amounts of food for populations comparable to those of the Andes today. Food surpluses were kept in specially designed storehouses, which still impress visitors.