Just small potatoes (and ulluco)? The use of seed-size variation in “native commercialized” agriculture and agrobiodiversity conservation among Peruvian farmers |
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| Authors: | Karl S Zimmerer |
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| Institution: | (1) Department of Geography, Institute for Environmental Studies, Program in Development Studies, University of Wisconsin – Madison, 384 Science Hall, 550 North Park Street, Madison, WI 53706-1491, USA |
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| Abstract: | Farmers of the Peruvian Andesmake use of seed-size variation as a source offlexibility in the production of ``nativecommercial' farmer varieties of Andeanpotatoes and ulluco. In a case study of easternCuzco, the use of varied sizes of seed tubers isfound to underpin versatile farm strategiessuited to partial commercialization (combinedwith on-farm consumption and the next season'sseed). Use of seed-size variation also providesadaptation to diverse soil-moistureenvironments. The importance and widespread useof seed-size variation among farmers isdemonstrated in the emphasis and consistency oflinguistic expressions about this trait. Smalland small-medium seed is typically sown in thecommunity's ``Hill' unit of sub-humid,upper-elevation agriculture. Seed tubers ofmedium-size and larger are needed fordrought-stressed locales in lower-elevationlandscape units. Farm-level preferences for theseed-size of tubers also suggest potentialrelations to resource endowments of farmhouseholds and gender-related management,although these tendencies were notstatistically significant in the study. Anintra-varietal, landscape-environmentalperspective on seed-size management, whichincludes an emphasis on within-fieldversatility, helps to strengthen the researchsupport of local seed production in policiesand programs aiming for in situagrobiodiversity conservation, marketingcapacity, and food security. |
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| Keywords: | Andean potatoes Drought adaptation Farmer selection Food security in situ agrobiodiversity conservation Market-based conservation Participatory Crop Improvement Peruvian agriculture Ulluco Seed traits |
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