Andean farmers confronting a changing

world

Silvia Sarapura Escobar

School of Environmental Design and Rural Development

University of Guelph

Outline

Introduction

Context

Methodology

Findings and discussion

of Results

Recommendations

Questions

Introduction

Andean farming systems confront a political dilemma of either preserving biodiversity or (over) exploiting natural resources.

Demands for food and environmental/climate change drive down biodiversity, traditional knowledge and Andean values.

These driving forces push for dramatic changes to both ecological and socio-cultural aspects.

Strategies in planning and decision making are recommended.

Contextual Analogies

Peru

31.5 million inhabitants (INEI, 2016).

55 indigenous groups. 14% of national population.

Quechua (83.11%); Aymara(10.92%) Ashaninka (1.67%). Others (4.31%) 52 different indigenous groups from the Amazon region.

23% of Perus population live below national poverty line

50% live in poverty in rural areas.

Ranked 77th out of 187 countries on the HDI (UNDP, 2012)

Three regions: Coast, Andean and Amazon.

81 ecological zones, linguistic diversity and wealth of natural resources hotspots for biodiversity.

Gap between the rural and Lima two different realities.

Peasant communities face severe climate stress.

Water scarcity in the high Andes.

Bolivia

10.7 million inhabitants (INEB, 2016).

+ 50 ethnic groups. 62% of Bolivians identified as indigenous.

Quechua (30%), Aymara (25%), Guarani (1.5%), Chiquitano(2.2%), Mojeno (0.85%), Others (1.5%).

60% of Bolivia's population live below the national poverty line.

80% live in poverty in rural areas.

Ranked 108th out of 187 countries on the HDI (UNDP, 2012).

Most of land inappropriate for agriculture (Slunge & Jaldin, 2007).

Overexploitation of soil, cattle-grazing and cultivation for export (soybean) main factors for land degradation (Slunge and Jaldin, 2007).

Insecurity in land tenure and unequal land distribution.

Two realities; small or subsistence agriculture and large scale agriculture.

Rising temperatures and changes in precipitation distribution affect physiology and growth of crops as well as sensitivity to pests and plant diseases (Lwanciw, 2007).

Methodology

Data analyzed from diverse studies conducted from 2008 to 2016 - Peru and Bolivia.

Data collected from FGDs, in-depth interviews, participatory video and surveys.

Information disseminated through videos, reports, papers and book chapters.

Findings and Discussion of Results

Andean Cosmo Vision

Communal Landholding

Peasants' understanding of

agro-ecological aspects to

preserve biodiversity

Multi-cropping

Cultivating different and various varieties in one parcel or plot - CHALO

Different varieties in different plots or ecological zones.

Including repellent plants into the plot

Bartering, (trueque) and com-padrazgo with other communities in different altitudes

Knowledge and skills in weather prediction by grassroots indica-tors or signs (seales)

Predicting changes in the weather - Frosty nights (helada)

Recognizing the behaviour or presence of different plants and animals as weather predictors

Interpreting the position, behaviour and appearance of stars, sun, wind, heat as weather predictors

Soil conservation

The construction of terraces or Andenes

Anticipating or delaying the planting season for soil health

Cultivating at different times at different ecological zones

Applying different types of tillage systems (barbecho, ocos and chacmeo)

Types of Power Exercised Between Stakeholders (NON COGEPAN)

POWER RELATIONS

Government (GO)

Public Sector (PS)

Universities (UN)

Informal Markets

(IM)

Bartering (BA)

Input Suppliers

(IS)

R&D and Extension

Sector

(RE)

Peasant Communities

(PC)

Community Based

Organizations

(CB)

Peasant Communities Associations

(AS) Power P

P MP MP NP MP MP MP NP NP

Role of Stakeholder

KS KS KS KS KS SS KS KS KS KS

Type of Relationship

E/D E/D E and/or D D EU D D and/or E

E/EU/B EU/B EU/B

P=Power MP=Medium Power NP=Non Power KS=Key Stakeholder SS=Secondary Stakeholder Enabler=E D=Deliverer E U=End User B=Beneficiary

Innovated Practices to Maintain Native Potatoes Biodiversity

InnovativePractice Features Constraints Threats

In-situ Conservation of Native Potatoes

Positive Selection of Plants Morphological and genetic

diversity On-farm maintenance of native

potatoes (own places of originand diversity) (female peasantproducer driven approach)

Inconsistent morphological characterization and registers of varieties

Need more knowledge on conservation (post harvest and storing activities)

Natural mutation and recombination of varieties

Climate change,facing climate stressmore frequently

State attention andsustainablepartnerships

Market pressure toproduce certainvarieties forcing toeliminate varieties

Peasant producersface exclusion andinequality whenparticipating intraining and events

Recognizing Native Potatoes Resistance to Diseases and Pests

Varieties are horizontally resistantto insects, diseases and pests

Vegetative periods vary fromearly to late periods

Some varieties contain lowreducing-sugar and long-termcapacity to be stored

Needs more scientificknowledge to recognize,differentiate and rankvarieties

Climate change, formalmarket pressure and newdiseases

Distinguishing varieties for their nutritional qualities and features when processed

Produce diverse sub products fordaily consumption, bartering andpetty trade

Specific varieties are transformedin chuo, dry potatoes, flour,potato starch, potato alike coffeeand tocosh

Most of varieties need toreach the consumer

Qualitative and medicinalproperties need scientificsupport. For example,tocosh is thought to havehigh levels of naturalpenicillin but weakscientific proof

Innovations in

peasant farming

Access to

Information

and

Technolog

y

Access

and

Control of

Land

Access to

Extension

Services

Married womens land

holding

1.Directly

Sharecropping

Renting

Own (buying)2. Indirectly

Community Land

Use of ICTs

(cellphones) and text

messaging for prices and

commercialization of

native potatoes

Farmer field schools

1.Internships or pasantias

2.Gastronomic and agri-food fairs

(Alianza Cocinero-

Campesino)

Women become partners with men producers and other stakeholders-

leaders

Women develop and stregthnen knowledge/capacities/skills (individually and

collectively)

Achieving changes:

Structural ------ Agency

Types of Power Exercised Between Stakeholders (COGEPAN)

NGO FOVIDA (FO)

Government Sector (National, Regional, Provincial) (GS)

Universities (UN)

Formal Market (FM)

R&D and Extension (RE)

Peasant Communities (PC)

Input Suppliers (IS)

Public Sector (PS)

Producers Associations (PA)

Power P P P NP P NP NP P NP

Role of

Stakeholder

KS KS KS KS KS KS SS KS KS

Type of Relationship

E/D E/D E/D D D E/EU/B D D and/or E EU/B

P=Power MP=Medium Power NP=Non Power KS=Key Stakeholder SS=Secondary Stakeholder Enabler=E D=Deliverer EU=End User B=Beneficiary

Recommendations

Institutional and Policy Framework

PROGRAMMING

Defining R&D and establishing general principles.

IDENTIFYING

Identifying and harmonizing the ideas, validating feasibility

FORMULATING

Designing , planning, formulating innovations

IMPLEMENTING

Planning knowledgesharing benefits

EVALUATING and AUDITING

Analyzingoutcomes and activities

Farmers (formal and

informal groups)

Projects and/or activities

Landscape or national

Programs and/or

brokering organizations

Institutional levels

Monitoring and documenting

Principles- The ecosystem (field), the

learning place- Facilitate and not teach- Hands-on and discovery-

based learning - The farmer is the expert- Equity and not hierarchy- Integrated and learner-

defined curriculum - Comparative experiments- Agro-ecosystem analysis - Demand driven topics- Team building and social

animation- Participatory monitoring

and evaluation - Aligning protocols with

program goals

Focus Areas1. Structural elements

Stakeholders Interactions Institutions Infrastructure

2. Functional factors Activities Learning processes Knowledge

Development Knowledge diffusion

and sharing Technology

development Technology adoption

and adaptation Structural support Enabling environment

Levels of Action- Individual- Project a