It is 09:00 in the morning of March 16, 2021, the sun shines near the multicolored quinoa plots, where farmers producing the golden grain of the Andes from the communities of Sonturo and Rodeo, belonging to the Original Mark of Salinas de Garci Mendoza from the department of Oruro, arrived to participate in the Demonstrative Field Day on Pest Control, Access and Efficient Use of Bioinputs for the Ecological Production of Quinoa, organized by technicians from the PROINPA Foundation, Promotion and Research of Andean Products, within the framework of the project "Strengthening and promotion of the efficient use of bio-inputs for pest management and crop nutrition in producers of the Bolivian altiplano", financed by the Cooperation Swiss and Swedish, executed by Swisscontac in partnership with the PROINPA Foundation.
The Demonstrative Field Day was inaugurated by the mayor of the Sonturo community, Piter Román Mamani Cruz, who pointed out, “I thank PROINPA for the visit and for the guidance for the good production of organic quinoa”.
Reinaldo Quispe, Project Coordinator (PROINPA), stated the following: “With the support of Swisscontatc, we are executing several activities to strengthen bioinput suppliers in their capacities regarding plant health and ecological pest management. Within this framework, we have organized this Demonstrative Field Day to learn about the production strategy. of quinoa and the experiences of farmers”.
José Olivera, Responsible for Marketing and Training of Bioinputs for the Production of Quinoa (PROINPA), explained to the farmers the production strategy for organic quinoa and the efficient use of bioinputs, "We, as PROINPA Foundation, have developed products that we can use from planting, such as Tricobal plus VigorTop, which help control soil diseases, these products help plants absorb nutrients, a plant with good roots will grow better and will have better performance. When the plant comes out, the "ticonas" worms attack it and for this you can use the Traps with Pheromone, when there are already worms it is recommended to use the BioMax. In "ticonas" it reaches up to 85% of effectiveness, for this reason it is recommended to fumigate twice, once when the plant is coming out and another when it is releasing the panicle with VigorTop. For the "qhaco" (moth) there is the pheromone, it is still placed in 4 traps per hectare, the moths lay 150 to 200 eggs in their entire life cycle, the pheromones are used to reduce the population of male moths”.
Testimony:
Near his quinoa plot is the young agronomist Zahid Cruz from the Sonturo Community, who addressed the farmers to let them know how he fared with the use of bio-inputs. “I want to share the experience I have had with my plot, where we are validating the Energy Top plus Tricobal and Tricobal plus VigorTop bio-inputs, I have also marketed these products regionally and in my community, I have indicated how it is prepared and the functions it fulfills”.
Sowing, “I have planted this plot on September 25, 2020 and at night, I have prepared it here in the field, as it was night, as it is recommended to prepare in the dark, where I do not see the light, I have hoped that it is not so dry , medium humid because these products are organic, they are growth promoters, so the sooner it enters the soil, the better, that's why I prepared it at night, we placed it medium humid and it has germinated at almost 100%, of course, where there was no humidity, not also , yes or if we need the percentage of humidity so that this helps to germinate the quinoa”.
While Zahid was explaining, he demonstrated pelleting quinoa seed in a swimsuit by mixing Enegy Top plus Tricobal, "for one hectare you need 250 ml of Energy Top, you have to add 150 ml of water, plus 200 g of Tricobal", then he proceeded with the drying in the shade, indicating that it must be uniform so as not to leave lumps and he recommended that the farmers dry for a period of half an hour without being exposed to the sun because the bio-inputs are live bacteria and the sun can kill them.
Zahid Cruz, during the demonstration of Energy Top and Tricobal quinoa pelleting
"Also I have made 3 preparations for different treatments, first I have prepared 8 pounds of seed with Tricobal plus Energy Top and applied in the sowing, that amount of seed reached us for 30 rows; the second preparation was made only with Energy Top, the same procedure with 8 pounds which we have sowed again and reached 30 rows and; from there to the other side of the crop, Vigor Top plus Tricobal has been prepared, for which 35 pounds has been prepared because it is broader”.
Spacing that was used in planting, “my seeder was adjusted to 3 blows at a distance of 60 to 55 cm and for this type of sowing to work we need to fertilize the soil with llama dung, sheep, what we have most in the region and on that these products or inputs are like food supplements, we consume and eat well, when we have some weakness we get serums or consume vitamins, more or less that is what these supplies will help us with, they are a supplement so that your plant is well fertilized, vigorous and achieves normal growth and that is what was applied in this plot”.
Treatment with bio-inputs, “this plot that is fertilized on that has been treated with Tricobal plus Energy Top, after 30 furrows only with Energy Top and the rest until the end has the application of Vigor Top plus Tricobal, so we can go ahead to see the difference and I am going to explain the first fumigation that I did, which is more or less after 3 weeks with BioMax and Vigor Top, I have used 3 caps of BioMax and half a liter of Vigor Top, this has a liter and is enough for 2 backpacks and the fumigation has also been done at 3 weeks in the morning from 06:00 in the morning until 10:00, because to do the test you have to be very cautious, that is the first fumigation that is Has made".
Application for the "ticona"
“Biomax was applied when There were eggs at that time, they are clear, they are on the leaves and at this stage it is more advisable to use these products in the egg stage”.
“When he reappeared "ticona" worms was applied again with the Biomax and so far it has given me good results, let's not expect the inputs to kill at once, in general we want to always see the worm dead, that is one's satisfaction, this up to 72 hours continues to take effect and with greater intensity. So I recommend this product, it is very good, we are seeing it here in my field, it has worked. The chemical eliminates the 95%, but with the chemical products we do damage to the soil and in addition to the pests we eliminate the biological controllers such as the "nina ninas" and "ladybugs" who control "ticonas" and aphids and at this time the aphids and With chemicals we eliminate all that, there are no controllers anymore”.
Zahid Cruz, during the demonstration of Energy Top and Tricobal quinoa pelleting
"Also I have made 3 preparations for different treatments, first I have prepared 8 pounds of seed with Tricobal plus Energy Top and applied in the sowing, that amount of seed reached us for 30 rows; the second preparation was made only with Energy Top, the same procedure with 8 pounds which we have sowed again and reached 30 rows and; from there to the other side of the crop, Vigor Top plus Tricobal has been prepared, for which 35 pounds has been prepared because it is broader”.
Spacing that was used in planting, “my seeder was adjusted to 3 blows at a distance of 60 to 55 cm and for this type of sowing to work we need to fertilize the soil with llama dung, sheep, what we have most in the region and on that these products or inputs are like food supplements, we consume and eat well, when we have some weakness we get serums or consume vitamins, more or less that is what these supplies will help us with, they are a supplement so that your plant is well fertilized, vigorous and achieves normal growth and that is what was applied in this plot”.
Treatment with bio-inputs, “this plot that is fertilized on that has been treated with Tricobal plus Energy Top, after 30 furrows only with Energy Top and the rest until the end has the application of Vigor Top plus Tricobal, so we can go ahead to see the difference and I am going to explain the first fumigation that I did, which is more or less after 3 weeks with BioMax and Vigor Top, I have used 3 caps of BioMax and half a liter of Vigor Top, this has a liter and is enough for 2 backpacks and the fumigation has also been done at 3 weeks in the morning from 06:00 in the morning until 10:00, because to do the test you have to be very cautious, that is the first fumigation that is Has made".
Application for the "ticona"
“Biomax was applied when There were eggs at that time, they are clear, they are on the leaves and at this stage it is more advisable to use these products in the egg stage”.
“When he reappeared "ticona" worms was applied again with the Biomax and so far it has given me good results, let's not expect the inputs to kill at once, in general we want to always see the worm dead, that is one's satisfaction, this up to 72 hours continues to take effect and with greater intensity. So I recommend this product, it is very good, we are seeing it here in my field, it has worked. The chemical eliminates the 95%, but with the chemical products we do damage to the soil and in addition to the pests we eliminate the biological controllers such as the "nina ninas" and "ladybugs" who control "ticonas" and aphids and at this time the aphids and With chemicals we eliminate all that, there are no controllers anymore”.
“Look and observe that we want you to analyze and use so much research time to obtain the products. The mentality is to sow fewer hectares and harvest more. The agricultural frontier is advancing and we are leaving the Altiplano deserted. Invest 500 to 600 Bs per hectare and you will have a better harvest, this is the result of the investment you make, but using the entire strategy would be better, all those who have used Tricobal products are much better and those who have not used watch itsaid José Olivera.
Don Bernardo used a component of the strategy, he used the Tricobal and said, “that his plot is much better, although he did not do all the monitoring”.
Use of pheromone for organic management, "pheromones have been installed for "ticonas" and "moth" or "qhaqo", it helps in control with reduction, this will not eliminate everything but if it reduces the population, then control has been done with the trap of the pheromone for the moth as we can see here there are "qhaqo" moths and you only need the trap and the pheromones. If we would all plant in our plots, imagine what the result would be like” concluded Zahid.
Farmers from both communities decided to organize themselves to campaign for the next planting and use pheromone traps like the Capura community, who all work together to control pests.
Edson Gandarillas from PROINPA stated, “For some time now, we have been making more improvements and giving you alternatives so that you can use them. In the end, the producers are the ones who have the heaviest work in the field and our job is to give you options, alternatives so that you can choose the best option and the fundamental idea is that we can all produce better. Quinoa is therefore a crop that if we do not work it, nobody is going to work it for us, you are the world exporters, if you do not improve, other places will improve it, that is why quinoa is important for all Bolivians and the work that you do. With PROINPA, feel free to visit us and with open arms we will wait to receive you, we are with our doors open so that you can visit us at the Foundation and see with your eyes how we are working, that shows the importance of producing what does quinoa have for us?”.
The participants asked PROINPA to buy the bio-inputs at prices that are affordable for them. “We are going to consider that, we are also interested in doing everything at scale. In the organic production of quinoa you are no longer alone, these products are showing their value in endless crops, the fact that you are watching over Mother Earth is the most important thing we have and you have to know how to take care of it, so you are invited to the harvest and there we will see how much we have produced and how much we are earning with the application of bio-inputs. Thanks for comingGandarillas finished.
Authorities from both communities closed the event emphasizing the following: “We thank the PROINPA Foundation for making this amazing workshop for the generations, for the presence and for the visit to the communities”.
Thank you for having visited us, we would have liked everyone from the APROQUIRI regional office of ANAPQUI to be there, "We thank them on behalf of them, we have seen how these products work, I am also going to use these inputs in the next planting”.
Farmers visiting the quinoa plot on Demonstrative Field Day
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