KNOWLEDGE SHARING EVENT ON KNOWLEDGE SHARING EVENT ON ““AGROBIODIVERSITY, CULTURES AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT”AGROBIODIVERSITY, CULTURES AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT”

Completion WorkshopCompletion Workshop19 May 201119 May 2011

BRIEF OVERVIEWBRIEF OVERVIEWofof

ACHIEVEMENTS in ECUADORACHIEVEMENTS in ECUADOR

TARGET OVERVIEWTARGET OVERVIEW

Andean region of Cotacachi

AreaN°

Communities

Indigenousnationalities

Habitants 2008 % rural Pobl.

ANDINA 43 KICHWA 15.874 100

SUBTROPICAL 82MESTIZA INDÍGENA, AFRO

17.461 100

TOTAL 125 33.335 100

Species prioritized: quinua, amaranth, chocho and melloco.

FINDINGSFINDINGS

Annual production of Quinoa and Amaranth experienced in Cotacachi since the beginning of the project.

Year Species Area planted

Area to be planted

Total production

(q)

Total production

sold (q)

Total production consumed or other

destiny (q)

Number of Farmers involved

08-09 Quinoa 0,5 h 4 0 4 3

09-10 Quinoa 32 h 280 230 50 63

10-present Quinoa 55 h 35 h 440 350 90 155

08-09 Amaranth 1,2 h 20 14 6 25

09-10 Amaranth 3,5 h 56 30 26 25

10-present Amaranth 12 h 8 h 110 80 30 75

increase in production sold and the number of farmers more than proportional year by year

(in 2010, total sales amounted approx at. 31.000 USD)

BUT, actually the demand at regional level of quinoa and amaranth certified is bigger then the offer.

FINDINGSFINDINGS

A local association of organic producers of Andean grains was legalized:

Mama Murucuna

quinoa and amaranth organic producers of Cotacachi members of the association are at present 230

(50% women)

FINDINGSFINDINGS

Concerning technologies an amaranth threshing machine (trilladora),

a mill and other small technologies have been provided to producers’ groups in Cotacachi.

Along with the introduction of the new technologies training courses have been organized and technical assistance offered (with

equal gender participation).

Before grain was separated by hand with flails, and was very laborious (20-25 lbs/day) and time consuming. The mechanization of

this process (250-350 lbs/day) allows offering the products at a competitive cost on the local markets, creating the condition for a

long-term economic sustainability.

FINDINGSFINDINGS

Representatives of communities have organized and participated to 3 local Festival of Biodiversity, Culture

and Andean cuisine,local Fair and Gastronomic Contestsvisited by around 8.000 tourists (30% international tourists).

An important result in terms of international networking is the signature of a Convivium agreement ratified

between UNORCAC and Slow Food.

FINDINGSFINDINGS

A cooperation agreement has been signed between Oxfam Italia and the Municipality of Cotacachi to join resources for the identification and implementation of a

Sustainable Economic Development Plan for Cotacachi focused on identity. Local Municipality is fully involved to promote a strategy for “production and

consumption with identity”.

Is currently on going the definition of the Cotacachi Canton Sustainable Development Plan, in which, for the first time, amaranth

and quinoa are among the twenty priority productions to be supported in consideration of the high potentialities.

The Government has manifested the interest of supporting Andean cereals included among the eight priority productions of Imbabura

Province.