Farmers experiment with trees in the Andes Mountains
More than one hundred families in the Ecuadorian Mountains are currently planting guarango’s. These trees contain gum and tannin. “A gap in the market”, says project coordinator Jenny Nuñez from the college in Riobamba.
One year old guarango's arrive in the farming village Gaushi. All the local residents spontaneously offer a helping hand to unload the small trees from the truck.
In the poor agricultural province Chimborazo Trias cooperates with local partners to strengthen a number of chains. Besides the production and processing potatoes, milk and guinea pigs, a three year project was started for guarango planting. “This tree species was mainly used to brighten up the landscape, but it has more potential”, Nuñez knows.
The seeds of the tree contain gum that can be commercialized as a basic raw material for the food industry. The tannin, gained from grinding the pods, is amongst other things popular as an environmental friendly tool for coloring and strengthening the leather in car seats.
Peru is by far the most important producer of guarango, but this neighboring country of Ecuador momentarily only covers 80% of the global demand. “Therefore more farmers in the Andes Mountains can find an additional income by cultivating this indigenous tree”, Nuñez believes. Furthermore, planting guarangos also is a means in the fight against erosion.
Trias provides the means that will help the college in the province capital Riobamba to multiply more high-quality cuttings. After one year the propagated trees are delivered to five farming communities. In a first phase the intention is to plant a total of 48 hectares.
“Preliminary most of the farmers are planting the trees on the field borders”, says Nuñez. “But it is perfectly possible to plant trees on the entire field, possibly even in combination with other crops like corn, beans or pees. But despite scientific studies that show the profitability, most of the farmers are reluctant about agro forestry.”
It takes three to four years before the guarango can be harvested for the first time. Nuñez will have to wait for a while on the first production results in Chimborazo, but sitting still is not her thing. "In the mean time we try, with the help of the expertise at Trias, to unite the growers in a cooperation." By grinding the pods themselves and selling the powder collectively, the farmers can receive a better price.
Nuñez hopes fervently the project succeeds. “The joint planting of trees provides the poor farmer communities with a new dynamic. Moreover the guarango can be planted on poor soil that lies fallow for years. Due to the lack of future prospects, many young people have left the countryside in the recent past. For some this project might be an incentive to return”, concludes the project coordinator.