Ecuador has 16 of the 22 species of Andean fruits known as toronches (specie Vasconcellea) and of these, 75% are present in the South region (Loja, El Oro and Zamora Chinchipe) turning it into the zone of the greatest diversity of this specie.
After the selection of promissory species, work in the field started concretely with V. stipulta and V. x heilbornni forming agroforestal orchards and developing different sub products. At the moment the Cochecorral Community has mounted a micro company of production of derivatives of toronche (jams and syrups), and supplies the local market with the production.
Achira is a rhizome bulb (underground stem that stores nutrients) cultivated for centuries by the Andean cultures, traditionally used for the production starch for human consumption called Chuno. The Cochecorral Community received assistance in the development of the cultivation systems and modernization of the technology used in product processing, to obtain a better item for consumption.
Donors: Probona
