La chacra – an alternative for the rescue, conservation and use of agrobiodiversity in Amazonian villages

Starting from 2016, the Amazonian Research Station of the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIAP), a public research organization, in cooperation with the local governments of the three provinces of Sucumbíos, Orellana and Napo, has initiated work on the conservation of a traditional agrobiodiversity-rich production system known as ‘chacra’. The objective is to strengthen these production systems and to provide incentives for farmers through enhanced productivity and income generation from local crops. The chacra cultivation system is based on the integration of four components: human, plant, animal and geophysical (soil, water and air); a good integration of these components results in improved biodiversity-rich habitats. The chacra system plays an important role in biodiversity conservation and as a source of germplasm; it is further of importance for climate-change adaptation and differentiated value-chain development. Around 500 Amazonian farms have been reached by activities for strengthening the chacra system. Many of these farms cultivate local species to produce food, fibre, medicine, dyes and wood; in addition, activities for value-addition have resulted in processing and marketing of coffee from the chacra system; producers are currently participating in both national and international fairs.