The organization and vertical-horizontal integration of an andean legume value chain: tarwi (Lupinus mutabilis)

Gladys J. Chipana Mendoza; Geovana Mercado Ramos; Rubén Jacobo Trigo Riveros; Hugo Bosque Sánchez

Abstract

The year 2016 was declared the International Year of Legumes by the United Nations (UN) in order to promote the consumption of these crops due to its protein and mineral content and its importance in improving the levels of nutrition and health of the people. In Bolivia initiatives have been taken to create more value in agri-food production chains to favor the peasant sector. In the Bolivian Altiplano region, productive chains have been described at the level of their horizontal organization for quinoa and potato, with few studies on the cultivation of tarwi, an andean legume. This study identifies and describes the characteristics and actors involved in the vertical and horizontal integration of the tarwi value chain, it also identifies its limitations and potentialities. Surveys were conducted on 105 farmers from 22 communities in the municipality of Carabuco, complemented by interviews and participatory workshops with representatives of tarwi producers’ associations. The results show the development of three types of integration in the tarwi value chain: partial vertical integration, vertical-horizontal, and vertical integration back and forth. The study concludes that the main challenge for the development of the chain lies in managing the articulation between different institutions such as municipalities, universities, governmental and non-governmental organizations, among others, in order to support farmers in the formation of micro-enterprises that grow Andean crops. The farmers are not aware about the possibilities and policies of support available to the productive sector in the region.