Andean grains generate around 5.9 million workdays annually in the countryside

Andean grains (quinoa, kiwicha, cañihua, and tarwi) are native to Peru (and Bolivia) and are exported to 40 countries worldwide, mainly to the United States, Europe, South America, and China. This was stated by Mariza Podestá Torres Llosa, president of the Andean Grains and Legumes Committee of the Exporters Association (ADEX), who indicated that due to their high nutritional value, the demand for these products continues to increase globally. She noted that Andean grains have a strong social impact in the country, as they are among the few products that grow in high Andean regions, which is why hundreds of thousands of farming families are dedicated to these crops because there are few alternative production options. She detailed that in Peru, 125,000 producers are dedicated to Andean grain production, with the main producing regions being Puno, Ayacucho, Apurímac, Arequipa, Junín, Cusco, and Huancavelica. Additionally, these crops generate around 5.9 million workdays in the ...