Root to Food

Executive Summary

Family agriculture is a key productive sector to eradicate hunger and propose changes toward more sustainable agricultural systems. In Latin America, 80% of farms belong to family farming, including more than 60 million people, making it the main source of agricultural and rural employment. Within family farming in the high Andean regions, Andean tubers such as potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), smooth potatoes or ruba (Ullucus tuberosus), oca or ibia (Oxalis tuberosa) and cubio or mashua (Tropaeolum tuberosum) are essential for food security, being an accessible source of calories, vitamins, antioxidants and minerals. One of the difficulties that the cultivation of Andean roots and tubers presents in countries like Bolivia and Colombia is the low yield, particularly of the traditional varieties. One of the fundamental causes of this low yield in terms of quantity and quality of the product obtained is the poor quality of the seed used. On average, in Bolivia, only 1% of small farmers use quality potato seed, a figure very similar to Colombia, where only 3% of farmers plant certified seed. This project aims to improve the potato and Andean tuber production systems of small farmers through good genetic and phytosanitary seed quality, integrated agroecological management of pests in family agricultural production units, and organizational and business strengthening of producer families.

The technological solution

In Colombia, the production of native potato seed will be implemented in a "pilot laboratory" managed directly by rural communities, trained in the use of biotechnological tools for phytosanitary cleaning through in vitro tissue culture. It is expected that good quality seed will be continuously available for them, making them less dependent on third parties for their supply.

In Bolivia, the Universidad Mayor de San Simón will be in charge of seed cleaning through in vitro tissue culture and, in association with the municipality of Sacaba, will be responsible for the continuous supply of seed to farmers in the area.

The adoption of agroecological designs by farmers and the incorporation of different strategies in MIPE programs in their crops is expected to result in decreased agrochemical use, which will have a positive impact on the environmental and economic sustainability of crops. It is also hoped to strengthen the community, association and organizational fabric of the families participating in the project.

Results

Beneficiaries

In Colombia we will work with small producers of potato and Andean tubers in the departments of Boyacá and Cundinamarca, organized in 3 associations. These associations will directly benefit 161 families and indirectly 308 families. It is also expected that at least 20 families of small producers who are not currently under any organizational system will benefit.

In Bolivia, work will be carried out with small farmers in the municipality of Sacaba, where 70 families will benefit directly and 150 families indirectly.

Sustainable Development Goals

Main donors

Dissemination products