Project profile — Agriculture in the Altiplano

• Bolivia (100.00%)

• Basic Health: Basic nutrition (12240) (25.00%)
• Food crop production:
Food crop production (31161) (25.00%)
Agricultural extension (31166) (25.00%)
• General Environmental Protection: Bio-diversity (41030) (25.00%)

• Gender equality (significant objective)
• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (principal objective)
• Participatory development and good governance (not targeted)
• Trade development (not targeted)
• Biodiversity (significant objective)
• Climate change mitigation (not targeted)
• Climate Change Adaptation (not targeted)
• Desertification (not targeted)
• Urban issues (not targeted)
• Children's issues (not targeted)
• Youth Issues (not targeted)
• Indigenous Issues (principal objective)
• Disability (not targeted)
• ICT as a tool for development (not targeted)

The project aims to reduce hunger and poverty among the Aymara on the Altiplano. It is designed to improve food security and strengthen farmers' capacities to work with ecological, local solutions. Project activities aim to increase the capacity of the farmers to improve their yields and income with organic agriculture. Project activities include: exchange visits to other communities; workshops to develop solid and liquid fertilizer; workshops to develop supplemental nutritional blocks for animals; distribution of quinua & cañahua seeds; distribution of potato seeds; Participation of families, men and women, in fairs in their community to promote bio-diversity and a variety of traditional meals. The project is expected to directly benefit 400 families living in the Ayllu Aransaya. The project values local sustainable and endogenous agricultural practices to reverse a diminishing biodiversity of the indigenous crops. The local partner is AGRUCO, a research and development centre created as a part of the Universidad Mayor de San Simon in Cochabamba.

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Results achieved as of the end of the project include: increased biodiversity in potato, quinoa and cañahua crops as well as other harvests. Farmers now plant a greater variety of seeds. Crop production is improved through use of organic fertilizers and organic mixes to control insect and disease infestations. The following performance increases were noticed: 83.2% for potatoes, 37.8% for oca, 43% for quinoa and 12.9% for cañahua. Thanks to this project, 180 men and 62 women are trained in the production of organic fertilizers and mineral mixes, and their related benefits; 65 women and 201 men are trained in the production of mineral blocks for feeding livestock, and their related benefits; 243 small farmers received benefits from the distribution of potato seeds and 160 traditional storage installations were built. Several knowledge exchange trips completed between communities resulted in reciprocal learning opportunities for beneficiaries. The well being of men and women is directly linked to the increase of agricultural production and product quality.

• Proactive disclosure