The hidden treasures of the Andes: future possibilities for the promotion of under-utilized Andean root and tuber crops in Bolivia.
Gaia Luziatelli, PhD student
Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Copenhagen University
In the Andean Region of Bolivia farmers cultivate more
than 4,000 landraces of native potatoes, however, the majority of them never
reach the market. This situation is shared also by other Andean root and tuber
crops which, despite the high nutritional values, medicinal properties and low
input requirements, are being substituted by other non-indigenous crops.
Solutions for making Andean Roots and Tubers Crops (ARTCs) more profitable for
the farmers and better accepted by the urban population might be offered by
gourmet restaurants and organic markets.
In my research I use a combination of ethno-botanical
methods, market studies and agronomic field trials. The first two approaches
serve to understand the problems faced by the farmers in the cultivation and
commercialization of ARTCs, as well as how to meet the requirements of gourmet
restaurants and organic markets. The field trials assess different organic
treatments on native potatoes in the region of Colomi, in the Cochabamba
Department.
The results of the study will hopefully contribute to
the sustainable production of Andean roots and tuber crops in Bolivia, combined
with the promotion of local and international markets.
