Description
Méthodologie et instruments
Outputs
Meetings and Workshop

The Bolivia project is part of the “Using market to promote the sustainable utilization of CGR” project (site under construction) and thus its main objective is to understand what is the role markets can play, depending on the level of access and availability of CGR they offer, to achieve a sustainable utilization of CGR as well as poverty reduction. In addition, the project seeks also to understand how farmers choose their market outlets both input (buying potato seeds) as well as to sell their potato produce.

The government of Bolivia has a clear policy direction through its National Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENDAR) and a policy framework through the comprehensive Bolivian Agricultural Innovation System (SIBTA). Among other items, the strategy includes elements for improving market access to both internal and external markets, improving productivity, developing infrastructure for commercialization, protecting and improving the utilization of biodiversity, and environmental sustainability. These specific objectives are to be met while reaching the overarching goal of the inclusion and participation of the rural poor in the process of rural development (Ministerio de Desarollo Rural, Agropecuario y de Medio Ambiente, 2005). Bolivia has also undergone a significant process of decentralization allowing for local level intervention a good prerequisite for project activities.

Nevertheless, Bolivia still presents only limited formal industrial potato processing. Consequently the potato market is quite scattered and fragmented. In particular three are the main potato systems that can be clearly identified:

Papa Holandesa system – largely concentrated in the Central and South Valleys and lowlands of the country (Centre Chuquisaca, South Tarija, the Llanos in Santa Cruz, and a bit in Araca (La Paz).

Papa Imilla system – largely concentrated in the Central Valleys and in the Altiplano. The main varieties are the Sanis, Imilla Negra (mainly produced in La Paz) and Waycha (mainly produced in Cochabamba).

Papa Nativa system – to be found in valleys, on the Altiplano. The papa nativa system contains wide genetic diversity and a range of initiatives of marketing fresh potatoes and processing (chuño, french fries, chips). Within this system exists a large number of sub-systems. This is partly due to high cultural and geographical differentiation of the country. Native potatoes are grown by small scale farmers who may also grow other types of potato, but have their major importance in the production systems of small scale farmers on the Altiplano (in the departments of La Paz, Potosi and Oruro).

As a consequence of the industrialization process and of the fragmentation of the potato system in Bolivia it was decided to study some identified market-sheds, and analyze whether farmers are linked to the market per se and under what conditions. The project, thus, studies the role played by selected market-sheds – Colomi and Tiraque – as well as the impacts of interventions on small farmers carried out by PROINPA.

 Méthodologie et instruments 

. Project Methodology (en anglais)
. Value Chain (en anglais)
. Focus Groups Discussions
  (1)   (2)
. Sample Strategy (en espagnol)
. Household Survey (en espagnol)
  (1)   (2)
. Community Survey (en espagnol)

Outputs

Meetings and Workshop