In the Andean highlands of Peru, native crops such as barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) and amaranth “kiwicha” (Amaranthus caudatus) are important food security crops for the 3 million people living there from subsistence agriculture. Through efforts initiated in the 1970s the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina with the Joint FAO/IAEA Programme (NAFA/AGE) assistance in technology adaptation and transfer and capacity building through Agency CRPs and national as well as regional TCPs, for the use of induced mutations and supportive biotechnologies, has developed new mutant varieties and genetic resources of these crops. Since 1978, the continuous Agency in conjunction with the governmental and regional stakeholders’ support, the establishment of Tissue Culture, Molecular Biology and Grain Quality Laboratories and the build-up of well-qualified personnel, produced the reported good results.
Planted in zones above 3,000 m (up to 5,000 m), where adverse climatic conditions do not allow other crops to be grown, barley is the main food security component for the 3 million native Peruvians living off subsistence agriculture in the Peruvian Andes. In an effort initiated in the 1970s, the National Agrarian University of La Molina, together with the IAEA and the Backus Foundation, developed, up until now, 9 improved varieties of barley through mutation induction and crosses that now cover 90% of the barley producing area in Peru. Some of the popular high yielding barley mutant varieties in the highlands are the mutant barley variety UNA La Molina 95 which was released in 1995 and more recently Centenario II released in 2006.
Centenario II is popular among the farmers community because it is of high yield, has quality flour, tolerance to damage by hail (due to its inclined head) and high value. Some farmers in the highlands reported impressive yield of 6 to 8 tons/ha with their standard agronomic practices, compared to the average of 4 tons/ha which was recorded by the breeder on the research farms during development of the variety, and a more than 6-fold increase in productivity of the original barley grown in 1978. Other characteristics for the popularity are the easy removal of the husk and the suitability in use of the grain as meal for the family and is becoming and important export variety.
