| Sustainable Production of Native Andean Fruits
| Cherimoya farmers have
seen a ten-fold increase in the sale price of their fruit |
An essential part of Nature and Culture’s
philosophy is to promote and assist in the development of sustainable
businesses and production systems within the various ecosystems
of southern Ecuador and northern Peru. In this way, local communities
can support themselves financially without damaging the local ecosystem
such as when forests are clear cut to plant corn or raise cattle.
In fact, this methodology encourages local communities to protect
and defend their environment since their financial well-being is
directly dependent on the health of the ecosystem. One example of
this is NCI’s promotion of the sustainable production of native
Andean fruits like the toronche, achira and cherimoya, or custard
apple.
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Toronche
Although more than half of the 22 species of toronche can be
found in Southern Ecuador, the fruit has not been cultivated
on a large scale. In an effort to conserve the native fruit
and improve the quality of life for people in the region, NCI
assisted several communities in setting up agroforestry orchards
to produce toronches, and then helped the communities to develop
a number of value-added products to increase income opportunities.
Currently, the Cochecorral Community has created a small company
to produce several toronche-based products, including jams and
syrups, which they are supplying to local markets. |
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Achira
Achira is a rhizome bulb, or an underground root that stores
nutrients, cultivated for centuries by the Andean cultures.
It is traditionally used for the production of a starchy flour
for human consumption called Chuno. Typical products made with
Chuno range from cookies and breads to drinks and soups. NCI
assisted several communities in the development of cultivation
systems and the modernization of the technology used in product
processing to obtain a higher quality product for consumption. |
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Cherimoya
The cherimoya is a subtropical native fruit tree of the Andean
region whose fruit has an excellent flavor with high nutritional
value. It is a traditional part of the diet of many Andean families.
NCI together with the participation of nine research groups
from six different countries (Austria, Belgium, Spain, Bolivia,
Ecuador and Peru) and the International Institute of Phytogenetic
Resources (IPGRI) started the CHERLA (Cherimoya Production in
Latin America) project as a means to encourage sustainable systems
of cherimoya production in Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru. NCI and
other research groups worked with local communities to develop
a number of methods to increase the production and quality of
this native fruit. Farmers learned about seed selection and
germination, pruning techniques for increasing the yield of
each tree, improved transportation methods, and a technique
in which a fine mesh enclosure is placed over each of the young
fruits to protect them from insects while growing. Farmers in
southern Ecuador have since seen a ten-fold increase in the
sale price of their fruit due to significant quality improvements.
Supermarkets in major cities throughout Ecuador have taken note
and have been placing early orders for the high-quality item.
The farmers involved in the program are extremely motivated
since they can now purchase basic goods for their families and
invest in the education of their children.
More information: www.cherla.com |
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