Bolivia (Santiago de Huari): Potato crop yields increase from 4 to 25 tons per hectare

Potato crop yields in the Orcuyo community of the Lagunillas Indigenous District, Santiago de Huari municipality, Oruro department, increased from 4 to 25 tons per hectare (tn/ha).

This is one of the results of the National Project to Improve Production Conditions and Competitiveness in Tubers and Roots, developed by the Decentralized Public Institution Food Sovereignty (IPDSA).

IPDSA Director Hugo Janco explained that the initial yield, without project intervention, was 4 tons/ha, while the projected yield with the project intervention was 9.66 tons/ha, but the result exceeded expectations and reached 25 tons/ha.

The key factors behind these excellent results were the transfer of certified potato seeds of the "Huaycha" variety; the provision of fertilizers and agricultural inputs, including insecticides; training in agronomic management; and, most importantly, the producers’ willingness to update their agricultural practices.

Bs 33,334 was invested in the project, of which the Ministry of Rural Development and Lands allocated 70% (Bs 28,994) and the beneficiaries 30% (Bs 4,340).

The total investment in the municipality of Santiago de Huari was Bs 1,095,260, the state counterpart was Bs 952,660 and the contribution of the beneficiaries was Bs 142,600

The beneficiaries in the Orcuyo community were 14 families, out of the total beneficiaries in the municipality of Huari, 460.

Orcuyo is located 209 km from the city of Oruro, two and a half hours away on the Pan-American Highway Oruro-Challapata-Potosí.