The associations of farmers in the production, processing and marketing of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) In the municipality of Patacamaya

Gladys J. Chipana Mendoza; Rubén Jacobo Trigo Riveros

Abstract

In Bolivia, most organizations of small producers are made up of agreements with governmental and non-governmental public institutions for access to better markets. Such is the case of the municipality of Patacamaya, where there are eight associations producing quinoa and other Andean crops. The main objective of the study is to characterize and analyze the current situation of these associations in the production, processing and marketing of quinoa. For this purpose, interviews were conducted with the presidents of these associations and attended meetings scheduled, obtaining quantitative and qualitative results Which were subjected to a comparative and descriptive analysis, using social analysis programs such as Ucinet and NetDraw, calculating the degree of intermediation by the Freeman method. Among the results, we have that all the associations are affiliated to FEPAMPA, which currently makes the beneficiary of quinoa for its offer to school breakfast in the municipality of Patacamaya. The varieties of quinoa grown by these associations are Real, Sajama, Pasankalla and Chucapaca, with collected amounts of 4600, 6900, 13800 and 18400 kg annually. The yields in the communities of origin of these associations vary from 552 to 920 kg ha-1 under irrigation to rainfed. In the commercialization there is variation in the intermediation of 0%, when it is individual to intermediaries of the local markets of Patacamaya and 57.5%, when it is through FEPAMPA. The form of organization of the farmers of the municipality has managed to consolidate its organization, maintaining providers of school breakfast of the municipality during four consecutive years.