The Impact of the Quinoa Boom on Bolivian Family Farmers

THE IMPACT OF THE QUINOA BOOM ON BOLIVIAN FAMILY FARMERS NEW FINDINGS BAŞED ON SURVEY RESULTS FROM 100 HOUSEHOLDS LOCATED IN SOUTHERN BOLIVIA Results of a study by Enrico Avitabile PhD candidate in Environmental and Development Economics at RomaTre University* Salar (salt flats) de Uyuni Home of the highest Quinoa Real production in the world BENEFITS 81% Guarantees improved incomes and access to credit of farmers interviewed bętween December 2012 and March 2013 say quinoa is their primary source of income INCREASE IN QUINOA PRICES Access to additional labour and machinery Almost all farmers define the current price level as acceptable Increased productivity Improvement in basic assets Better living conditions Effect of public investments in infrastructure Possibility of better education • Number of people in training: 70% of people answered 'student' as first occupation within the 18-25 age class • Investment in higher education: percentage of people with more than 10 years of study quadrupled in the 18-25 age class compared to the over 40 age class Reversal of the large migration flows (especially of young people) that afflicted this area just a few years ago CAN PRESSURE OF FOREIGN DEMAND Quinoa price Export PUT FOOD SECURITY AT RISK IN BOLIVIA? Domestic 1. QUINOA CONSUMPTION IN RURAL AREAS consumption In the past: Higher quinoa consumption - families used to eat quinoa "3 times a day, 7 days a węek" 2012-2013: Lower quinoa consumption (still adequately consumed) but local diet is more varied HOW? ll Increased demand Money availability Increase in informal local trade for quinoa MORE VARIED LOCAL DIET Easier access to different types of previously inaccessible food (both geographically and financially) like fruit and vegetables Farmers say their food conditions have "improved, thanks to quinoa" • Frequency of consumption by food type among farmers (days/week) in 2012 100% I|||| 90% 80% 70% 1 5-7 60% 1 2-4 50% 40% 1 0-1 20% 10% 0% Quinoa Grains Meat Legumes Potatoes Vegetables Fruit Milk 2. QUINOA CONSUMPTION IN URBAN AREAS Domestic consumption is increasing- per capita consumption was: •0.35 kg/year in 2008 •1.11 kg/year in 2012 CHALLENGES 1. LAND DEGRADATION More than DU% of farmers interviewed define the soil poorer compared to 3 years ago Expansion of areas for quinoa cultivation Increased quinoa production Increased soil erosion (particularly marked in the Southern Altiplano) Adverse impact on other farming activities: the ratio of "number of lamas to cultivated hectares" has decreased in recent years 2. REDUCTION OF CULTIVATED VARIETIES White • Percentage of quinoa production (in qq) by variety Phis anqalla Just three varieties cover more than 75% of the entire production, because they are the most demanded by the export sector. 11% Pandela 36% Toledo This reduction in cultivated varieties is associated with a reduction in biodiversity. However, people in the villages can appreciate the differences among the varieties (some varieties are preferred for specific uses or ways of cooking, and a few of them are still used in traditional medicine). 15% Black Qillu 26% Other HOW CAN THE QUINOA BOOM CONTINUE IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY (FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL POINT OF VIEW)? Increased efforts in developing the domestic market through public polides (e.g. public meal programmes) Guarantee agreater access to this nutritious food for all Bolivians Quinoa is exported solely as pearled grain, with little added value Increased effort in developing agroindustry Greater integration and collaboration between different actors involved in the quinoa chain It is important notto separate quinoa production from other activities traditionally carried out in the Southern Altiplano area Lama breeding (the manure is required to fertilize the ground). Private export fims are more active in developing new products and technologies, while producer associations are more linked to life in the communities (better equipped to manage the environmental issues). Conciliation of market demand and conservation of genetic diversity: In Bolivia, much research is being undertaken to improve the use of quinoa in agro industry by using different properties assocdated with diverse varleties more efficiently. Promising association between quinoa production and ecotourism (the Salar region is one of the most visited attractions in Bolivia). Quinoa is a "strategic product for food security and a great export opportunity" The Bolivian Government, Ley De La Revolución Productiva Comunitaria Agropecuaria 'This investigationis based on a number of key livelihood, environment and development indicators ie. financial, human development, food security, environment and biodiversity conservation, and cultural identity indicators. 2There is more concern about price volatility, which is very high, especially for some varieties such as phisangalla (redquinoa). 3 At absolute and percent level. 4We did not colledt data on quinoa consumption in the urban context, this offidal data comes from the Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (National Institute of Statistics). *Enrico Avitabile is PhD candidate in Environmental and Development Economics at RomaTre University (Italy); the research in Bolivia is part of a Bioversity International research programme funded by IFAD with support from RomaTre University, the European Union, the CGIAR Research Programme on Policies, Institutions and Markets, and Fundación PROINPA Infographic prepared by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Quinca with data provided by [email protected] 2013 International Year