In October 2013, quinoa producers from the region Salinas de Garci Mendoza in Bolivia were introduced to new machinery which they might use in a pilot project for the season 2013/2014. The machinery with the name Satiri I, II and III has been imported from Argentina just at the right time of land preparation, fertilization and sowing in the Bolivian Altiplano.
The objective of the institutions which facilitated this import is to join the interests of fulfilling the international demand for quinoa, hence expanding production and satisfying the requirements of organic agriculture, like maintaining soil fertility.
Responsible persons of the Bolivian foundation FAUTAPO and the National Institute of Farming and Forest Innovations, INIAF claim that the use of the machinery assists the farmers in ploughing their land without removing the upper layer of the soil. Additionally, it makes the use of fertilizer (in this case liquid lama manure) more efficient and finally it increases the efficiency during the sowing process since farmers will be able to sow 1 hectare within 2 hours. With a good soil and pest management, David Soraide Lozano (FAUTAPO) estimates that yields will be up to 920 kg/ha.
After the use in Salinas de Garci Mendoza, the machines will be brought to other quinoa producing regions.