Including Dietary Concerns in On-Farm Research: An Example from Imbabura, Ecuador

摘要

The inclusion of dietary and nutritional concerns in an on-farm research program in Ecuador's Imbabura Province is examined in this report. After providing background information on the program, which focuses primarily on maize (the major staple), the report describes traditional maize varieties and their dietary uses and shows how this information twice proved helpful in deciding whether or not to introduce new varieties. Next, data provided by farmers are analyzed as to the role played by maize, barley and wheat, potatoes, beans, peas, broad beans, lupine, and quinoa in farmer diets, and the value of these foods as sources of energy and protein is assessed.