Quinoa with farmer in Cachilaya, Bolivia

An interesting new paper by Andrew Ofstehage in the journal Agriculture and Human Values describes the current economy of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) in Bolivia, about which we have reported previously. Although it is occasionally difficult to cut through the social science jargon of the paper (at least for us humble agronomists), it is an excellent account of the options available to poor Bolivian smallholders for commercialising quinoa of different qualities in different marketing channels. The paper also explores the complex motivations behind farmers’ decisions to sell quinoa to different buyers, and it provides insights in the role and vital services of local intermediaries (contrary to the common stereotype of their exploitative role).

We found it interesting that although the traditional marketing of quinoa as an undifferentiated commodity continues to be the choice of producers of lower grade qualities, some farmers actively pursue strategies to position their quinoa in high-value market niches. So, for example, the farmers of Los Lipez, reported to take pride in local production methods that result in a particularly large grain and distinct product, “have created a denomination of origin (DO), a registered trademark to protect a geographically distinct and socially reproduced commodity, for quinua real de Lipez. This initiative encourages Lipeño farmers to sell their quinoa as Lipeña and prohibits outside farmers from doing so..”

Interestingly, the movement towards differentiation of Lipeña quinoa is largely spearheaded by a consortium of local organisations intending “to add value to local products and promote an alternative local economy based on the recognition of tradition and Lipeña identity through the promotion of products, development of new products, and the certification of products from Lipez”.

The College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources / University of Hawai’i at Manoa provides a comprehensive online library of its publications. We specially would like to point our users to the sections

• Fruits and Nuts
• Home Garden Vegetable
• New Plants of Hawaii
  and
• Sustainable Agriculture