19/07/2016
The rise of quinoa, the traditional grain of the Andes, as a "superfood" beloved of western foodies has been accused of driving poverty in the region. But a new report says it has helped increase the welfare of quinoa farmers in the Puno and Cusco regions of Peru:
"A misconception was developing about trade’s contribution to food security and it was clear data was needed to shed light on the issue. ITC, which is providing training to farmers in Peru, teamed up with US agricultural economists Marc Bellemare and Seth Gitter to measure the impact of quinoa price changes on the welfare of the country’s indigenous Aymara and Quechua communities in Puno and Cusco, the primary quinoa producing areas in the Peruvian high plain. The data shows that as prices rose between 2004 and 2013, both producers and consumers in the region benefited financially from the trade. Quinoa farmers, who are among the poorest people in Peru, saw a 46% increase in their welfare over this period, measured by the value of all goods and services consumed by the household."
Photos © Thomas Munita, ITC/The Guardian
www.theguardian.com
Read the complete article:
www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/jul/17/quinoa-threat-food-security-improving-peruvian-farmers-lives-superfood
