Rapid participatory characterization of cassava landrace agrobiodiversity, nomenclature and traditions, uses, and conservation status

The characterization of cassava landraces in the region of Pasco, Peru, was initiated in 2017 by a consortium coordinated by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), including the Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria (INIA), National University Daniel Alcides Carrión (UNDAC), the civil society organization Instituto del Bien Común (IBC) and an organization representing the indigenous Yanesha peoples, the Federación de Comunidades Nativas Yaneshas (FECONAYA). Objectives entail the documentation of Yanesha cassava agrobiodiversity, including associated practices and traditions; to compare these with historic measures (based on previous studies); to assess patterns of conservation, management, and loss; to generate locally-appropriate educational materials, including varietal catalogues; to communicate results to local peoples; and ultimately to empower the Yanesha peoples. Core components include the systematic documentation of existing landrace diversity in cassava-producing Yanesha communities by conducting household surveys, participatory GIS cartography and field sampling, phenological and morphological documentation, plant photography and ethnobotanical inquiries, combined with genetic fingerprinting studies. These data provide a robust analysis of cassava diversity and conservation trends, both spatially and temporally. In addition, locally appropriate catalogues and communication materials give local people insight into their varietal diversity, risk of loss, and management options.