Identification of native potato varieties (Solanum sp.) produced in three communities of the municipality of Tiahuanaco

Lindsay Bustillos Siñani; Abel Rojas Pardo; Celia Fernández Chávez; Juan José Aparicio Porres

Abstract

In several regions of the Bolivian highland, climate behavior is changing, influencing the agricultural production of the crops produced in the region. Currently, potato production faces adverse factors such as the availability and quantity of seed of native varieties that have lower yields, added to the presence of pests and diseases, frost, hail and drought cause the reduction of native potato production, with a risk to disappear. The study was conducted in the Ingavi province of the municipality of Tiahuanaco in the department of La Paz in the communities of Caluyo, Pillapi and Huacuyo. The present research work identifies the native varieties produced in the agricultural production systems existing in the three communities, for this, primary information was obtained through field visits, interviews and surveys to 54 producers of these communities, as part of the method non-random (convenience sampling). Of nine native varieties produced in the three communities, four are of greater importance than: black mullet (100% of producers), to be consumed as boiled and mashed potatoes, Surimana and Saq'anpaya (74% of producers), for be consumed as boiled potato or chuño; the variety Wila Pala (63% of producers) consumed as boiled potatoes and mashed potatoes, variety Sani Imilla (52% of producers) consumed as boiled potatoes or fried potatoes, variety Waych'a (46% of producers) consumed as boiled potatoes or mashed potatoes, variety Luk'i (41% of producers) consumed as chuño and tunta and Khati Señorita (26% of producers) consumed as chuño.These native potatoes contribute to the food security of the region by the frequency of consumption and culture they present.