Stakeholder workshop – setting priorities

First step toward the development of the ANDESCROP programme was the holding of a stakeholder workshop in Bolivia, which took place during 15−17 September, 2004 in La Paz, Bolivia.

The purpose of the workshop was that key partners and resource persons representing different scientific disciplines and groups of stakeholders discussed and identified needs and demands, set priorities, appointed responsible parties and draft an outline for the full proposal.

Each partner institution (see list) provided a description of work area, expertise, and human and economic resources, which can be included in the resource base of the programme.

Conclusions of the workshop

Five Andean crops were selected to be included in the project: quinoa, cañahua, tarwi, oca and ajipa.

Among the selected crops are three Andean seed crops (quinoa, cañahua, and tarwi), two legumes (tarwi and ajipa), one tuber (oca) and one root (ajipa).

One crop already has an international established market (quinoa), others have potential to find export markets in the future (tarwi and cañahua), but for all crops the most important would be to increase and promote their use and derived products among the farmers’ families, in the local region and on the national market.