Guardianes de semillas en la quebrada de Humahuaca: conservación in situ de variedades tradicionales de maíz y papa andina en Ocumazo, Aparzo y Chaupi Rodeo

This  research article was developed in the framework of the project PR-154-Argentina project "Conservación y uso sostenible de los recursos fitogenéticos locales para la alimentación y la agricultura (RFAA) para contribuir a la seguridad alimentaria de los pequeños agricultores de Argentina" funded in the 4th project cycle of the Benefit Sharing Fund (BSF) of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN). 

In the towns of Aparzo, Chaupi Rodeo and Ocumazo (Dpto.Humahuaca, Jujuy) since 2020, experiences of revaluation, rescue of varieties and in situ conservation of Andean crops have been developed. With the aboriginal communities of these localities, local varieties of corn and Andean potatoes were surveyed that have nutritional value in local gastronomy, and for which the supply of multiplication material has been lost or is at risk. Based on this participatory diagnosis, partners worked with producers who constituted themselves as seedbeds or “seed guardians” for their community, who established permanent plots for the cultivation and multiplication of the selected varieties. The objective of this presentation is to show the work of “seed guardians” as an effective strategy to supply good quality multiplication material, adapted to local environmental conditions and that responds to community demand in terms of food and cultural needs. The results of the experience are presented with systematized information from: community workshops, semi-structured interviews with the “seed guardians”, agricultural monitoring of the plots, reflections of the technicians and reports from the project that financed the experience. In relation to the contribution that in situ conservation makes to agrobiodiversity, the plots are integrated with the other crops that make up the rotation scheme of the local calendar, the traditional practices of the area are respected; but to improve the quality of the seed plots, technologies related to irrigation and bioinputs were incorporated. As a result, there are seven “seed guardians”, four in Ocumazo, two in Aparzo and one in Chaupi Rodeo who conserve 14 varieties of corn and 7 of Andean potatoes.