Traditional potato storage in Peru : farmers" knowledge and practices

This report documents and analyzes the various forms of farm-level potato storage practices in the main producing regions of Peru. Due to a complex ecology and a blend of subsistence and commercial production, Peruvian storage patterns are among the most diverse in the world. The coast, with its commercialized production and tropical desert climate, supports a different storage pattern than is found in the highlands, where conditions are cooler and agriculture more traditional. Market relations in the coast and the highlands also vary and thereby affect storage practices. There are two general conclusions. (1) Although attempts to improve storage have focused to date on large, government-controlled stores, which are often located outside the main producing areas, local-level storage is vastly more important in terms of volume and economic significance. Future programs should directly address the technical needs of farm household storage. (2) The wealth of farmer knowledge about storage problems provides a valuable starting-point in improving traditional systems.