Papa Andina is a regional initiative that promotes technological, commercial, and institutional innovation in the potato sector in Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru. It began its activities in 1998, with financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Coordinated by the International Potato Center (CIP), Papa Andina has just completed its second phase (2002-2006) and is preparing for a third phase, which will run from 2006 until 2010.
This Initiative seeks to help reduce poverty among small-scale farmers improving the competitiveness of potatoes in the market and by allowing small farmers to participate more effectively in markets for potatoes and potato-based products. Papa Andina pays special attention to improving the participation of low-income farmers in productive chains, by linking their demands more effectively with sources of new technology, by promoting farmer organization, and by involving small farmers in participatory market chain exercises that develop innovations that benefit the poor, capturing their demands through an interactive network of public - private partners.
Papa Andina works with a Strategic Partner in each country, to promote capacity development, information exchange and collaborative learning. These Strategic Partners are the PROINPA Foundation in Bolivia, the National Potato Program of Ecuador’s National Institute for Agricultural and Livestock Research (INIA) and the INCOPA Project in Peru. Through each Strategic Partner, Papa Andina works with approximately 30 Operational Partners in each country. By working with its Strategic and Operational partners, Papa Andina’s actions reach a growing number of farmers.
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Implementation areas of the Papa Andina Initiative |