METHODOLOGIES TO FOSTER PRO-POOR I N N O V A T I O N

Bringing about positive changes for a whole agricultural sector

requires the garnering of public opinion, policy makers, and

political will. Based on policy needs evidenced in their research

activities, Papa Andina and its strategic research partners have

continuously pursued two objectives: improving the image of

native potatoes and inscribing the issue of the competitiveness of

the potato sector into the political agenda. To meet those

objectives, Papa Andina and its partners in the Andes have

successfully engaged in three strategies, which reached a pinnacle

during the UN-declared International Year of the Potato in 2008.

Public awarenessand political advocacy Public awarenessand political advocacy

1. Developing a strategic vision for the potato sector in the Andean region Papa Andina worked with research partners in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru to implement a regional diagnostic of comparative statistics for the potato sector. This data provided the basis to develop a strategic vision for the whole sector. Conducted in a participatory way, the vision exercise involved a wide range of actors such as Ministries of Agriculture and leading private sector companies.

3. Policy support for the competitiveness of the potato sectorPapa Andina and its partners advocated for ministerial decrees and have participated in normative processes that have led to the following results: • Introduction of native potatoes in the national variety catalog and the formal

seed system in Peru• Quality and technical norms for chuño and tunta in Bolivia and Peru.

Over the past 10 years, Papa Andina and its partners have created and promoted awareness about native potatoes at the regional, national and international levels, highlighting their culinary, cultural, and economic potential for promoting development in rural areas of the Andean region. Main results include:• Creation and celebration of a National

Potato Day in Peru and in Ecuador with the participation of the Ministry of Agriculture, municipalities, supermarkets and restaurants, cooking schools, and media coverage.

P A P A A N D I N A

ResultsThe strategic vision exercise identified priority areas requiring public and private action for the development of the potato sector such as organizing the sector, developing lobbying capacities, and developing technologies for improving the efficiency and sustainability of the potato production system. In each country, partners are now using these results to support concrete actions.• In Ecuador, a public fund of USD 6 millions was approved by the Ministry of

Agriculture to strengthen the potato sector with a pro-poor focus. The government declared a National Potato Day.

• In Peru, the public and private sectors have translated their commitment into the promulgation of promotional policies and technical regulations, as well as private investments to develop new potato-based products and processing plants.

• Bolivia is analyzing the development of a strategic vision as a methodological tool to support the development of the sector.

• El Sector Papa en la

Región Andina:

Diagnóstico y

Elementos para una

Visión Estratégica

(Bolivia, Ecuador y

Perú).

Centro Internacional de la Papa. 385 p. 2010. Devaux A. et al.

• Developing a Strategic

Vision for the Potato

Sector in the Andean

Region.

Article presented at ISTRC Symposium, Lima, Peru. 2009. Devaux A. et al.

• Papa, Madre. History of

a photographic

exhibition.

International Potato Center, 151 p. 2009.

C o n t a c t P a p a A n d i n a

cip-pandina@cgiar.orgw w w . p a p a n d i n a . o r g

2. Raise the visibility and profile of potatoes as a high-value product

Key Key Readings

• Production of a potato photography exhibition that toured the Andean countries in 2008.

• Near daily presence of the potato in the media during 2008.