Ten producer associations of native and commercial potatoes from the districts of Huasmín, Sorochuco and Encañada signed an agreement with the ADERSCORP SRL Company, under the "Competitive production of potato in the field of Conga-PROPAPA" project, to sell these tubers in the local and national markets. The initiative is funded by the Los Andes de Cajamarca Association (ALAC), a corporate body of Yanacocha, and executed by ADERS.
During the 2014 crop year, producer associations supplied the Metro, Wong and Tottus supermarkets with fresh potatoes and potato chips under the Native Snacks brand. This year, they are looking to expand the market and ensure the placement of 100 metric tons of the 2015 harvest.
Antonio Llanos, a producer of native potatoes, said that this type of agreement opened the market to their production. "Thank God there are these institutions that support us. It is a guarantee for our association. Our parents said the native potatoes were no longer producing; however, thanks to the technical support we have recovered our native varieties of potatoes," he said.
Meanwhile, Walter Campos, head of the Social Development Projects of Los Andes de Cajamarca Association (ALAC), said the aim of the project was to improve the living conditions of the families in the highlands that were participating in it, by selling native potatoes, and gradually consolidating the development of the region.
Representatives of each association, members of the Chamber of Commerce of Cajamarca and representatives of the Regional Directorate of Agriculture also attended the signing of the agreement.
Source: Agraria