Isaño (Tropaeolum tuberosum) a traditional alimentary and medicinal crop in Huatacana, for the benefit of the bolivian population

Rosmery Aruquipa; Rubén Jacobo Trigo Riveros; Hugo Bosque Sánchez; Geovana Mercado Ramos; Justina Condori Mamani

Abstract

The article presents a characterization of the traditional production and consumption system of isaño (Tropaeolum tuberosum) in the community of Huatacana, Mocomoco municipality, La Paz. Isaño is a tuber from the Andes, it belongs to the tropaeolaceae family. It is an annual, herbaceous plant. It has a spicy taste however it is exposed to the sun before cooking to acquire sweetness and a pleasant flavor. In traditional medicine, it is considered as an antibiotic, to calm kidney problems, to reduce prostate inflammation and to reduce sexual appetite, cure anemia, among others. A participant observation method was used, following and sharing all crop-related activities with the farmers. The results indicate that the production of isaño in the community remains very traditional, without the use of agrochemicals or machinery. The Isaño is grown with maize and mainly with oca and papalisa, the crop is quite rustic in the area. Five varieties of Isaño are cultivated in the area: chi’yar (black), killu (yellow), jachir (with red lines), qhini (purple yellow) and asut’i (with purple lines). The traditional consumption is trough huatia (soil oven) and boiled. The beneficial properties that the tuber may have for the health are not known by the Young population, therefore it is preferred by the elderly and not so much by the young people.Due to the migration processes in the area the production and consumption of this crop is reducing gradually.