Isidoro Cora Carpio

Peruvian inventor who revolutionized Andean agriculture through terrace farming innovations

Isidoro Cora Carpio (1842-1912) was a Quechua engineer from the Peruvian Andes whose agricultural innovations transformed mountain farming practices. His development of the andenes mejoradas (improved terraces) system in the 1870s increased crop yields by 400% in steep terrain. His dedicated museum in Cusco showcases his hydraulic engineering techniques that combined ancient Incan wisdom with modern materials.

Cora Carpio's most impactful contribution was the invention of the culebrera irrigation channels, serpentine waterways that preserved soil moisture and prevented erosion. These systems are still used today in regions like the Sacred Valley. His engineering notebooks reveal his pioneering use of reinforced concrete for terrace foundations, a technique that extended infrastructure longevity by decades.