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BOLIVIA 2024. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu official visit to Bolivia

BOLIVIA 2024. FAO DG QU Dongyu visits the Huatapampa community

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BOLIVIA 2024. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu official visit to Bolivia

15 September 2024. Lake Titicaca, Bolivia. Community members from Huatapampa, a community in the Bolivian highlands on the shores of Lake Titicaca, show the Director General of FAO their systems for sowing feed for camelid livestock, haylage systems and animal health. As a result of FAO's work in Bolivia, they are applying sustainable methods for a better environment.

09/15/2024

Country Bolivia (Plurinational State of)

Credit FAO/Max Valencia

UNFAO Source FAO Photo Library

File size 4.30 MB

Unique ID UF17MT1

Editorial use only. Photo credit must be given. For further information contact: Photo-Library@fao.org

Background Information

FAO Director-General QU Dongyu visited the Huatapampa community to learn about their ancestral agricultural practices and meet small-scale family farmers who grow different ecotypes of potatoes, beans and other tubers.

At the village of Huatapampa located at an altitude of 3,864 meters, in the high plateau of the Department of La Paz, with around 576 inhabitants, the Director-General observed agricultural production on terraces, using ancestral technology. This helps to reduce soil erosion, protect crops from frost and promote the diversity of food species such as potatoes, grains and vegetables. He also witnessed a planting demonstration and saw an exhibition of Andean products.

The community harbours a wealth of ancestral knowledge and genetic biodiversity adapted to high altitude conditions and a well-developed knowledge of risk management and food preservation. Families store their food for the medium and long term, converted it into dried grains, dehydrated potato and goose products. Their diet consists mainly of potatoes, maize, beans and other crops complemented by fishing and the raising of domestic animals such as sheep, cows and chickens.
The visit highlighted the community’s commitment to preserving traditional agricultural techniques, which are deeply rooted in indigenous customs. The delegation experienced local cultural expressions and participated in an Apthapi, a community-based lunch, symbolizing unity and sharing of food produced in the region. This visit highlighted the importance of indigenous knowledge and sustainable practices in contributing to food security and agricultural biodiversity.