Pastaza: Ancestral Agroforestry Food Systems (SAAA)

Ancestral Agro-Ecological Food Systems (SAAA) consisted of an innovative proposal based on the need to stop cutting down the forest and to intervene in areas where deforestation was at a medium-high level. Knowing how difficult it is to reach agreements with the nationalities, the Provincial Government of Pastaza began with meetings with the leaders to socialise the proposal and to be able to enter the territory, which without their consent is impossible to achieve, and so focal points of each nationality were appointed and the starting point began.

One of the strengths of the implemented project is to have hired promoters from the intervened sectors who were trained and gave constant follow-up to the SAAA, with the purpose of fulfilling the weekly plans that were developed.

In the territory, the need for food sovereignty was identified, as well as the need to conserve the forest, the need for some economic income, which is where the project includes a space within the SAAA for a cash crop that allows them to have an economic income, from which several initiatives are born, which after a study and market plan are implemented in the territory.

Models of ancestral agro-ecological food systems were developed for each nationality, containing 30%: food, 30%: species of medicinal/craft/fruit value, 40%: native species of commercial value, and 40%: native species of commercial value.

Some commercial agreements were established for the purchase of products such as transkutuku peanuts, which the Obepare community currently sells to CONFERIB, an enterprise in Pastaza that gives added value and produces candied peanuts, supplying the national market.

• https://pastaza.gob.ec/