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A woman and her children select
oca at harvesting time. |
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Project information
»The problem
In the challenging Andean highlands, subsistence farmers grow
a variety of tuber crops that produce income and provide daily
nourishment. In some rural communities during the harvest
season, these tubers can account for up to 90 percent of the
diet. Although generally productive in the marginal Andean
soils, the crops — oca, olluco, and potato — are
vulnerable to insect pests, particularly weevils. The weevils
burrow into the tubers, where they can lie dormant and then
spread when the tubers are used as seed. Weevils and other
problems, including weather conditions, low yields caused
by soil erosion and nutrient loss, population pressures, and
market isolation, have been diminishing the plants' biodiversity.
»The approach
Combining biology, agronomy, and social sciences, this project
worked with farmers from six villages to understand how they
traditionally have conserved genetic resources through their
cropping systems and to help them manage the weevil pests.
The researchers developed a system of integrated pest management,
studied the genetic diversity of the tubers, and worked with
conventional and marker-assisted breeding methods to improve
the nutritional content, storage, and marketing of the tubers.
»The goal
To improve biodiversity of Andean tubers, improve productivity
in ways that are sustainable, document traditional practices
and their effectiveness, and translate that knowledge to a
larger scale.
 Group
mapping exercise
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Project impact
The project "Strengthening the On-farm Conservation
and Food Security of Andean Tubers in the Fragile Ecosystems
of the Southern Peruvian Highlands" took place from 1995
to 2005 in six traditional rural communities (Picol, Matinga,
Qqueccayoq, Poques, Chumpe, and Sayllafaya) of Cuzco, Peru,
where 470 families benefited (2200 inhabitants) from the project.
Also, farmers of more than 30 communities near or around the
six villages already mentioned benefited from the project
as the results were disseminated through farmer's and children
schools, farmer's workshops, seminars, congresses, and broadcasted
through a local radio program in the native language to Andean
farmers.
Among the most outstanding benefits to farmers is the integrated
approach developed to successfully managing the Andean weevil
complex. In the rural communities of Cuzco, the oca weevil,
ulluco weevil and Andean potato weevil, which were found in
the project to be different species, are the most dangerous
pests of the starchy Andean tubers oca (Oxalis tuberosa),
ulluco (Ullucus tuberosus), and potatoes (Solanum
spp.). The approaches blend ancestral indigenous knowledge
and modern scientific research. These includes rooting out
volunteer plants, plowing after harvest, using sheets at harvest
to prevent larvae from pupating, putting ash at the base of
the plants to prevent weevil infestation, using the parasitic
fungus Beauveria brongniartii at the first mounding
and at stores, early harvesting, planting weevil free sprouts,
and using chickens as predators. This strategy has dramatically
reduced damages from 90-98% to less than 25%.
Another important contribution beneficial for poor farmers
has been the improvement of traditional strategy to store
Andean tubers. Farmers of the six villages were rather reluctant
to use sprout inhibitors to store Andean tubers because of
the unpleasant flavor of the tubers treated with the chemical.
So, the traditional strategy called taq'ue utilized by farmers
to store Andean tubers was improved by using resources of
the community, this is cost effective and in harmony with
environment. Losses were reduced from 16-18% to less than
two percent. Farmers showed their willingness to use the new
version of taq'ues by the construction of more taq'ues by
themselves.
Biodiversity of oca, ulluco and mashua were also restored
in the communities of Picol, Matinga, and Queccayoq from two
to three cultivars per crop and planted occasionally by two
to three families to two-27 cultivars grown today by almost
all the families living the three communities. The tuber seed
flow was also found to be an important strategy used consciously
or unconsciously by farmers of the six communities already
mentioned for successful on-farm conservation and utilization
of Andean tubers.
Identification of mashua cultivars showing a great range of
glucosinolate content has been the basis for further studies
of this secondary metabolite as its genetics is being studied.
The identification of the parasitic nematodes Steirnernema
and Heterorhabditis for weevil control has stimulated
further studies to use the two nematodes in the integrated
management of the Andean weevil complex in a not too distant
future.
»Back to top
Investigators
»Partner institutions
»Investigators at University
of Cuzco/CRIBA (*=project leader)
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Dr. Ramiro Ortega*
Dr. Carlos Arbizu
Prof. Luis Lizarraga
Prof. Jose Rozas
Dr. Alberto Tupac
Prof. Willy Vargas
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»Investigators at International
Potato Center (CIP)
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Dr. Jesus Alcazar
Dr. Miguel Holle
Dr. William Roca
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»Investigators at University
of California-Davis
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Dr. Stephen Brush
Dr. Harry Kaya
Dr. Lynn Kimsey
Dr. Carlos F. Quiros
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»Back to top
Annual progress reports
Click the links below for annual progress reports.
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»Original grant
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Year 1 (1995-1996)
Not available in digital format.
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Year 2 (1996-1997)
Not available in digital format.
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Year 3 (1997-1998)
Not available in digital format.
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Year 4 (1998-1999)
Not available in digital format.
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»First renewal
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»Back to top
Publications
CCRP supported publications
File date: 8/2006
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