Unveiling Ancestral Sustainability: A Comprehensive Study of Economic, Environmental, and Social Factors in Potato and Quinoa Cultivation in the Highland Aynokas of Puno, Peru

Fredy Calizaya (), Luz Gómez, Jorge Zegarra, Melvin Pozo, Carmen Mindani, Cirilo Caira and Elmer Calizaya
Additional contact information
Fredy Calizaya: Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Escuela Profesional de Ingeniería Agronómica, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano, Puno 21001, Peru
Luz Gómez: Departamento de Fitotecnia, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Ave. La Molina S.N., Lima 12056, Peru
Jorge Zegarra: Escuela Profesional de Ingeniería Agronómica y Agrícola, Universidad Católica de Santa María Arequipa, Urbanización San José s/n Umacollo, Arequipa 04445, Peru
Melvin Pozo: Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias Escuela Profesional de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional de Huancavelica, Paturpampa 09001, Peru
Carmen Mindani: Facultad de Industrias Alimentarias, Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Av. La Molina S.N., Lima 12056, Peru
Cirilo Caira: Facultad de Ingeniería, Escuela Profesional Ingeniería Forestal y Ambiental, Universidad Nacional de Jaén, Jaen 06800, Peru
Elmer Calizaya: Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Escuela Profesional de Ingeniería Topográfica y Agrimensura, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano, Puno 21001, Peru

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 17, 1-23

Abstract: Centuries of cultivation in the Highland Aynoka of Puno, Peru, have endowed indigenous crops such as potato and quinoa with rich cultural and nutritional value deeply ingrained in local traditions. This study meticulously evaluates their economic viability, environmental implications, and cultural importance by employing a mixed-methods research approach involving surveys, interviews, and observations. The outcome reveals that while the Economic Sustainability Index (EKI) moderately supports potato and quinoa production sustainability, with a value of 2.98, it falls short of significant impact. Conversely, the Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI) and the Social Sustainability Index (SSI) exhibit moderate levels of sustainability, recording values of 4.04 and 3.38 for ESI and SSI, respectively. These crops demonstrate acceptable economic feasibility, marked by consistent sales, income generation, and manageable production expenses. The findings underscore the urgency of endorsing sustainable farming methods to safeguard cultural heritage, boost market prospects, and fortify regional ecological robustness. Rooted in ancestral sustainability, potato and quinoa cultivation is a cornerstone in local food systems. Recognizing the cultural, economic, and environmental significance inherent to these crops, efforts can be channeled towards nurturing sustainable agricultural systems that uphold community well-being, conserve biodiversity, and facilitate cultural resilience in Puno’s Highland Aynoka.

Keywords: sustainability; ancestral; Aynoka; survey; indicators; potato and quinoa; highland (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/17/13163/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/17/13163/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:17:p:13163-:d:1230986

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().