Good quality seed: the basis for improved production and yield in the cultivation of native potatoes and Andean tubers

Systems for the provision of seeds of native potatoes and Andean tubers that are economic and sustainable for family agriculture, enable improvements to crop yield.

Context of the story

Family farming (FF) is key to eradicating hunger and proposing changes to more sustainable farming systems. In Latin America, 80% of farms belong to FF. Within FF of high Andean regions, potatoes (S. tuberosum), ulluco (U. tuberosus), oca (O. tuberosa) and mashua (T. tuberosum) are essential for food security, as they are an accessible source of calories, vitamins and antioxidants. Among the difficulties that RTA cultivation presents in countries such as Bolivia and Colombia is the low yield, particularly of traditional varieties. One of the causes of low yield is poor seed quality. In Bolivia and Colombia, on average only 2% of farmers use good quality seed to establish their crops

Production of good quality seeds of native potatoes and andean tubers and adoption of IPDM strategies for improving crop yields

The implemented initiative

Through strategies of Participatory Rural Innovation, this platform seeks to improve the system of potato and Andean tubers production of small producers in Bolivia and Colombia, with the use of seeds of good genetic and phytosanitary quality. The seed is expected to be available continously for small farmers, without relying on third parties to supply it. The adoption of integrated plant disease management (IPDM) strategies in crops aims to achieve a decrease in the use of agrochemicals, which will positively impact the environmental sustainability of production systems.

The use of good quality seed, the adoption of IPDM strategies and socio-organizational strengthening improve the yield of potato crops and Andean tubers in family farming

The technological solution

With the strengthening of the community fabric of the families participating in the project, it is expected to improve the potato and Andean tuber production systems of small producers, encouraging the use of high-quality genetic and phytosanitary seeds. In Colombia, the production of native potato seed will be implemented in a "pilot laboratory" managed by farmers trained in the use of biotechnological tools for in vitro tissue culture. In Bolivia, seed cleaning through in vitro tissue culture will be carried out by the UMSS, which, in association with the municipality of Sacaba, will be responsible for the continuous supply of seed to farmers in the area. Likewise, it is expected that with the adoption of agro-ecological designs by farmers and the incorporation of different IPDM strategies in their crops, the use of agrochemicals will decrease, with subsequent positive impacts on the environmental and economic sustainability of crops.

"Through the recovery and conservation of native potatoes and Andean tubers we want to strengthen the food security of our community"
Leader of the Integral Agricultural Cooperative of Colombia - Coinpacol.

Participating countries

Type of project

Results

Participatory collection and recovery of 36 varieties of native potatoes and 19 morphotypes of mashua in Colombia and 56 varieties of native potatoes, 3 of ulluco, 2 of oca and 2 of mashua in Bolivia.

33 Workshops and 66 field days on good agricultural practices, conservation and characterization of native potatoes, social strengthening

Establishment of 5 conservation and participatory research cores in Colombia, for the agromorphological characterization of the collected materials and IPDM

50 varieties of native potatoes established in vitro and 4 of them in the process of virus cleaning through thermotherapy.

Participatory construction of a social and technical-commercial baseline with the three organizations in Colombia.

Relevant data

Relevant results 2022-2023

Trained farmers 2021
Native potatoes varieties characterized
-
Native potatoes varieties characterized
Trained people
-
Trained people
Fewer applications of agrochemicals
-%
Fewer applications of agrochemicals
Better yield of native potatoes crops
-%
Better yield of native potatoes crops
Families benefiting directly
-
Families benefiting directly
Beneficiary students
-
Beneficiary students
Field days
-
Field days
Native potato varieties introduced in vitro
-
Native potato varieties introduced in vitro

Strengthening the community fabric, the key to improving the production systems of Andean potatoes and tubers

Root to Food: a proposal to improve the production systems of native potato and Andean tubers producers

Root to Food: a proposal to improve the production systems of native potato and Andean tubers producers

Participating Organizations

Corporación para el Desarrollo Participativo y Sostenible de los Pequeños Productores Rurales (PBA) - Colombia
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (PUJ) - Colombia
Universidad Mayor de San Simón  (UMSS) - Bolivia
Gobierno Autónomo Municipal de Sacaba (Municipio de Sacaba) - Bolivia
Asociación campesina no nacional de trabajadores de la veredad Alizal, municipio de Carmen de Carupa (Asoagroalizal) - Colombia
Cooperativa Integral Agropecuaria de Colombia  (COINPACOL) - Colombia
Cooperativa Integral de Productores de Papa de Ventaquemada  (COOINPAVEN) - Colombia

Main donors

FONTAGRO
FONTAGRO
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E-mail: fontagro@fontagro.org