Interinstitutional experience in the organic production of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Aroma province, department of La Paz

Abstract

The national vision regarding the production of quinoa focuses its attention on the volumes produced in the Southern Altiplano of Bolivia, which concentrates 87 % of the total produced. 13 % of the production volume corresponds to the department of La Paz, Central Highlands. The quality of production in the Central Highlands lies in the management of its genetic diversity and being part of the crop rotation system. The effects of climate change cause economic losses to producers, affect the environment and consequently discourage production. As part of the national policy in the 2021 administration, the Food Production Support Company, through its Quinoa Program, proposed the challenging objective of promoting and consolidating the "organic production of quinoa" in the Aroma province, in the department of Peace. The objective of the document is to present and analyze the methodology implemented in the Quinoa Program in agricultural management 2021-2022. For this purpose, the qualitative method was used, information related to the implementation of programs was collected, and field information was collected through interviews and a systematization workshop with the main actors. The list of executed programs was identified; the economic contribution of quinoa; the phases that contributed to the implementation of the Program and the generation of lessons learned, where the participation of institutions was effective by working with 1 574 producers, achieving an impact on 4 111 hectares, of which 2 151 are in the certification process. This document underlines the importance of making an assertive relationship between the institutions around the product, subject to scaling and being replicated.