Skip to main content
Log in

Growing Oca, Ulluco, and Mashua in the Andes: Socioeconomic differences in cropping practices

  • Published:
Agriculture and Human Values Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Farmers in Andean communities depend on complex farming systems that combine native and introduced crops, production for subsistence, and production for the market. Home to the well-known potato, the Andean region is also the native place of hundreds of lesser known varieties of tubers such as oca, ulluco, and mashua. Using data from interviews and field observation in the Peruvian community of Picol, we describe the economic and social relevance of these tuber crops in the context of the local farming system. A cross-case comparison of households is used to examine the relationship between socioeconomic status and the allocation of family resources. We also explore how different agricultural practices relate to the biodiversity of indigenous tuber crops.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Altieri, Miguel (1995), Agroecology. The Science of Sustainable Agriculture. Second edition. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bellon, Mauricio R. (1991), “The ethnoecology of maize variety management: A case study from Mexico,” Human Ecology19(3): 389-418.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bianco, Mariela (1996), Farming Systems, Indigenous Crops and Knowledge: The Production of Minor Tubers in the Peruvian Highlands. Master's Thesis, The Pennsylvania State University.

  • Brush, Stephen B. (1980), “Potato taxonomies in the Andean agriculture,” in Dennis M. Warren (ed.). Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Development. Washington, DC: University Press of America.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carmines, Edward G. and Richard A. Zeller (1979), Reliability and Validity Assessment. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chambers, Robert (1993), “Introduction,” in R. Chambers, A. Pacey, and L. Thrupp (eds.). Farmer First. Farmer Innovation and Agricultural Research.London: Intermediate Technology Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collins, J. L. (1986), “The household and relations of production in southern Peru,” Comparative Studies in Society and History28: 651-671.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook, Thomas D. and Donald T. Campbell (1979), Quasiexperimentation. Chicago, IL: Rand-McNally.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cortés Bravo, H. (n. d.), “Alcances de la investigación en rres tubérculos Andinos. Oca, Olluco, Maswa, Isaño o Añu,” in M. Tapia (ed.). Avances de las investigaciones sobre tubérculos alimenticios de los Andes.PISCA-CIID.

  • Cotlear, Daniel (1989), Desarrollo campesino en los Andes.Lima: Instituto de Estudios Peruanos.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cronbach, L. J. (1951), “Coefficient alpha and the internal consistency structure of tests,” Psychometrika16: 297-334.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deere, Carmen D. and Alain de Janvry (1979), “A conceptual framework for the empirical analysis of peasants.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics(November, 1979): 601- 611.

  • Dueñas, A., R. Mendívil, G. Lovatón, and A. Loaiza (1992), “Campesinos y papas: A propósito de la variabilidad y erosión genética en comunidades campesinas de Cusco,” in C. I. Degregori, J. Escobal, and B. Marticorena (eds.), Perú: El Problema Agrario en Debate. SEPIA IV.Lima: Seminario Permanente de Investigación Agraria and Universidad Nacional de la Amazonía.

    Google Scholar 

  • Durston, John, W. (1982), “Class and culture in the changing peasantry,” Cepal Review16 (April, 1982): 153-176.

  • Fano, Hugo and Marisela Benavides (1992), Los cultivos Andinos en perspectiva. Producción y utilización en el Cusco.Lima: CIP.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fonseca, César (1988), “Diferenciación campesina en los Andes Peruanos,” in E. Mayer and C. Fonseca (eds.), Comunidad y Producción en la Agricultura Andina.Lima: Fomciencias.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonzales de Olarte, Efraín (1984), La economía de la comunidad campesina. Lima: Instituto de Estudios Peruanos.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, Enrique (1994), “Recursos naturales, medio ambiente, tecnología y desarrollo,” in O. Dancourt, E. Mayer, and C. Monge (eds.). Perú: el problema agrario en debate. SEPIA V.Lima: Seminario Permanente de Investigación Agraria.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miles, Matthew B. and A. Michael Huberman (1994), An Expanded Sourcebook. Qualitative Data Analysis(2nd edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Montecinos, Camila and Miguel Altieri (1992), “Grassroots conservation efforts in Latin America,” in David Cooper, Renée Vellvé, and Henk Hobbelink (eds.), Growing Diversity. Genetic Resources and Local Food Security. London: Intermediate Technology Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Montoya, Rodrigo (1982), “Class relations in the Andean countryside,” Latin American PerspectivesIssue 34, IX(3): 62-79.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Research Council (1989), Lost Crops of the Incas. Little-Known Plants of the Andes with Promise for Worldwide Cultivation.Washington DC: National Academy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patton, Michael Q. (1990), Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods(2nd edition). Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strauss, A. and J. Corbin (1990), Basics of Qualitative Research.Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tapia, Mario and Alcides Rosas (1993), “Seed fairs in the Andes: A strategy for local conservation of plant genetic resources,” in Walter de Boef, Kojo Amanor, Kate Wellard, with Anthony Bebbington (eds.). Cultivating Knowledge. Genetic Diversity, Farmer Experimentation and Crop Research.London: Intermediate Technology Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tapia, Mario (1994), “Conservación y uso de los recursos fitogenéticos Andinos para un desarrollo agrícola sostenido,” in O. Dancourt, E. Mayer, and C. Monge (eds.). Perú: el problema agrario en debate. SEPIA V.Lima: Seminario Permanente de Investigación Agraria.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trivelli, Carolina (1992), “Reconocimiento legal de comunidades campesinas: una revisión estadística,” Debate Agrario14: 23-38. Lima: CEPES.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolf, Edward C. (1986), Beyond the Green Revolution: New Approaches for Third World Agriculture.Worldwatch Paper 73. Washington DC: Worldwatch Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerer, Karl S. (1996), Changing Fortunes: Biodiversity and Peasant Livelihood in the Peruvian Andes. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bianco, M., Sachs, C. Growing Oca, Ulluco, and Mashua in the Andes: Socioeconomic differences in cropping practices. Agriculture and Human Values 15, 267–280 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007572203541

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007572203541

Navigation