Sustainable intensification of family farming in Peru and Bolivia

Disseminate, through a participatory scaling methodology based on a Virtual Dissemination Platform (PVD), knowledge and climate-resilient technological innovations that enhance the family production systems of the Peruvian-Bolivian Altiplano

Context of the story

Andean family farming faces a scenario of climate change and needs to intensify its productivity in a sustainable manner. In the family nucleus, young people are key elements. However, they are not considered in technology transfer. It is planned to reach this segment by disseminating agricultural knowledge obtained in research and validated locally. A methodology for scaling up Agricultural Technological Alternatives (ATA's) has been followed using, as a tool, a virtual dissemination platform (PVD). This tool has been operational for 42 months. Through its monitoring system, it is observed that the beneficiaries (women and men) have strengthened their knowledge in preparation for their future role as “new farmers”.

What is the Virtual Dissemination Platform (PVD)?

The Implemented Initiative

The Project has been structured with three components: a) development of a methodological process that includes convening actors, definition of beneficiaries (rural students), a baseline study and a systematization of agricultural technological alternatives (ATA's); b) structure a Virtual Dissemination Platform (PVD), where the ATAs are included and that allows the beneficiaries to access this knowledge virtually and rely on workshops (participatory/virtual) and demonstrative modules and c) generate conditions for continuity with local actors. The central axis, disseminating ATA's, allowed the students to install several of them in their properties as a replica of what they learned when interacting with the PVD. With this, the scaling process is correct.

VIRTUAL PLATFORM AS A DISSEMINATION TOOL (PVD)

The technological solution

The orientation of the TC is to strengthen Andean agriculture in a context of poverty, environmental fragility, climatic irregularity, and socioeconomic restrictions. The target group is rural students of both sexes from the Peruvian-Bolivian Altiplano. This segment is not a priority in technology transfer programs. Therefore, the initiative considers that this youth population needs knowledge, guidance, and agricultural skills because in the future they will be responsible for productive units. The strategy is based on disseminating validated and climate-resilient agricultural technology alternatives (ATA's) through a Virtual Dissemination Platform (PVD). The PVD includes 60 ATA's in areas of agriculture, livestock, processing, among others, which have been locally validated and are consistent with the Andean family production system. It is hoped that the new farmers, farmers, and innovators, in their area, are the ones who strengthen local agriculture and become leaders in transferring knowledge.

“Based on what we learned in the PVD, with my family, we started the production of vegetables, achieving monthly harvests that allow us to consume and sell them.”

— Vilma Quentasi Morocco. Student. Santa Rosa de Melgar (Puno, Perú). A 4100 msnm

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Type of project

Results

There are five levels of actors. Students are the “focus of interest”. 33 agreements were signed. In 2018, a survey was taken of 943 students and the same in 2021 to 688. In 2018, 10% talked to their parents about technology. In 2021, 70% did. The agricultural ATAs rated them as "good" (54%) and "very good" (40%). In 2021, 98% want to install ATA's in their properties. The PVD recorded 21,596 visits. Of these, 945 users interacted 3,680 times. From the PVD, 25 ATA's were downloaded in 1978 opportunities. 111 replicas were installed in homes. 98 teachers use the PVD as an educational reference. The face-to-face workshops registered 2,678 students in 80 events. The virtual workshops were 46 with 1011 students. In the virtual ones, the correct answers, after the training, is 76%. 369 students participated in the Modules. In the “native potatoes” contest, 68 students participated. They recovered 18 potato varieties from being lost.