Indigenous Farming Systems in Ecuador: Lessons for Adapting to Climate Change
The Andean highlands hold vital lessons for building sustainable food systems worldwide. As organizations like EkoRural work to revive ancestral practices and connect farmers with urban markets, they demonstrate that solutions to global challenges often lie in the wisdom of local communities.
In this blog post:
- The evolution of traditional Andean farming in Ecuador: the role of Chakras
- Agrarian reforms and their impact on indigenous farming communities in Ecuador
- Reviving indigenous farming practices with EkoRural
- Indigenous farming as a blueprint for building resilience to climate change
“In each household in our community, we have the native seeds that we have saved from our ancestors,” says Elena Tenelema as she walks across her farm. “Caring for our Pachamama (Mother Earth) is the most important thing. If we contaminate it with chemicals, it will be the end of our land, and we won’t have it in the future.”
Elena is from the Quechua community of Tzimbuto, in the Central Andean highlands of Ecuador. A leader in managing community seed banks and agroecological farming, she embodies generations of Indigenous knowledge rooted in sustainable practices. For her and her community, farming is a way of life—continually adapting to nature’s cycles, innovating and drawing on practices refined over centuries. Today, Indigenous people’s fundamental knowledge of the land is crucial in building resilient agricultural systems amid the growing threats of climate change.
This article explores Indigenous farmers’ traditional farming practices in the Andean highlands of Ecuador, how they benefitted dozens of communities, and how they offer a blueprint for adapting to climate change.
The evolution of traditional Andean farming in Ecuador: the role of Chakras
For centuries, Indigenous farmers in Ecuador have relied on chakras—small, biodiverse, family-managed plots that integrate crops, animals, and forest resources. These ancestral systems enable communities to maintain ecological balance, ensure food security, pass down knowledge, and preserve farming methods uniquely adapted to the region’s challenging environment.
This holistic system nurtures a harmonious relationship between people and the land. It prioritizes:
- Agrobiodiversity: Farmers grow a mix of crops on the same plot, such as maize, potatoes, quinoa, beans, and medicinal plants. This diversity helps control pests, enrich the soil, preserve agrobiodiversity, and ensure food security.
- Agroecological practices: Techniques like crop rotation, intercropping, and organic fertilization promote soil health and sustainability.
- Community and cultural values: Closely tied to Andean cosmology, chakras embody respect for Pachamama (Mother Earth) and the interconnectedness of all living things, with knowledge passed down through generations.
- Climate resilience: The adaptability of chakras to different altitudes and microclimates makes them highly resilient to environmental changes.
Agrarian reforms and their impact on indigenous farming communities in Ecuador
The Spanish colonization of the Andes introduced the hacienda system in the 16th century, disrupting communal farming practices. Under this system, a large part of Indigenous farmers worked on large estates in exchange for marginal plots. By the mid-20th century, this dependency left Indigenous farmers with little autonomy and access to fertile land.
In response, the 1964 and 1973 agrarian reforms aimed to dismantle the hacienda system by redistributing land. While some Indigenous farmers gained property, much of it was steep and degraded, limiting productivity. Many rural families turned to wage labor, and the emphasis on monocultures and export-oriented agriculture further marginalized traditional farming practices.
Agricultural development strategies in the Andes focused on Green Revolution technologies. These were followed by “modernization” in the 1980s, with a strong focus on export-oriented crops. Policies favoring the production of commercial crop varieties and monocultures had disastrous effects:
- they reduced the genetic variety and diversity of native seed systems and family farms,
- lowered the quality of food in both rural and urban areas,
- and increased the concentration of production among a handful of companies in sectors like sugarcane, palm oil, and bananas.
Many rural families were now forced to depend on processed foods, eroding food sovereignty and local nutrition. Modern farming tools and practices, like heavy plowing, also exacerbated soil erosion, especially on steep volcanic slopes. Farmers were left struggling to cultivate a layer of cement-like volcanic ash known as cangagua.
This shift in farming systems heavily contrasted with the chakras’ core nature: systems based on belonging rather than ownership. “Belonging understands the individual and individual actions as connected to the collective.” Conventional agricultural systems emphasize on ownership—it’s about taking rather than exchanging.
These strategies led to an environmental, social, and economic crisis by the end of the 20th century. Massive internal and external migration devastated traditional culture and farming practices, putting the very existence of the traditional Andean chakras at risk.
Reviving indigenous farming practices with EkoRural
Today, over half of Ecuador’s agricultural soils are degraded. Despite disruptions caused by colonization and the Green Revolution, many Andean communities have continued to practice chakra-based agriculture with the support of local NGOs like EkoRural.
EkoRural is an Ecuadorian NGO that works to reverse the damage caused by the Green Revolution. They do so by championing agroecology and reconnecting farmers with their ancestral knowledge. As farmers strengthen their understanding of their micro-ecosystems and the broader food system, they’re able to develop regenerative and balanced farming systems adapted to local contexts.
Their initiatives include reinforcing chakras’ traditional farming practices while promoting innovation and adaptation to modern challenges, such as:
Native seed preservation: Community-led seed banks managed predominantly by women ensure the circulation of high-quality native seeds. For example, a seed bank in Cotopaxi transformed an initial supply of 25 pounds of potato seed into over 110,000 pounds, providing food security while ensuring that seeds remain in farmers’ hands.
Farmer-to-farmer exchanges and discovery-based learning: Traditional Andean crops like potatoes, mellocos, and ocas are being revived and improved through farmer-to-farmer exchanges. For example, EkoRural has enabled the spread of a resilient potato species to over 500 farms, benefitting hundreds of families. Farmers engage in hands-on experiments to adapt their practices to climate challenges, ensuring that they remain stewards of their unique ecosystems.
Local market integration: Farmers collaborate with urban consumer groups through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and direct markets. This approach strengthens farmers, reduces intermediary exploitation, and provides city residents with affordable, nutritious, locally grown food. For example, the Canastas Comunitarias (Community Food Baskets) model connects urban families with agroecological farmers, fostering trust and mutual benefit.
Agrobiodiversity recovery: EkoRural supports the reintroduction of native crops like oca, melloco, and native potatoes. These crops are better suited to local conditions and add nutritional and economic value to family farms. Systems based on cover crops, green manures, and limited tillage reduce soil degradation and increase fertility. Practices such as crop rotation, agroforestry, and organic fertilizers enrich the soil and improve yields, even on degraded land.
Scaling practices: Scaling Indigenous farming techniques is not about replicating fixed solutions but spreading fundamental principles and strategies tailored to local contexts. EkoRural fosters viable models that inspire and can be adapted by others. These practices reach broader audiences through networks like the Agroecology Collective and Groundswell International.
Since 2005, the number of farmer organizations adopting agroecological farming practices in Ecuador has increased, and local market initiatives are growing. Farmers are recovering traditional knowledge and water, agrobiodiversity, forests, and páramos (high, tundra ecosystems). Mangroves are also being conserved, restored, and protected.
“Thirty years ago, all we cultivated here was corn and some beans. With the support of EkoRural, we have recovered seeds and plants that we had stopped producing. Now, we learn and share with other communities about the seeds and plants they still have. Then, with a small group of ten or so of us, we start to test and reproduce the seeds on our own farms and community plots. For every pound of seeds we receive, we commit to passing on two pounds to other farm families—while keeping enough to continue producing ourselves.”
Elena Tenelema, Tzimbuto, Central Ecuadorian Highlands
Indigenous farming techniques as a blueprint for building resilience to climate change
Indigenous farming practices in Ecuador are deeply aligned with natural cycles, making them inherently resilient to the impacts of climate change. They can inspire solutions to global challenges across multiple levels:
Biodiversity as a buffer
Polycultures, agroforestry, and crop rotation reduce vulnerability to pests, diseases, and climate extremes. In our program areas in Ecuador, farmers often cultivate 30-40 Indigenous crop varieties in a single plot. This diversity ensures that even if one crop fails due to drought or frost, others can still provide food and income.
Juan Simón Guambo, a farmer from Chimborazo, highlights the importance of this approach:
“Climate change sometimes makes the weather too hot and sometimes too cold, damaging my crops. So we have been planting native species of plants around the chacras, such as oca, mashua, ulluco, native potatoes and maize, provided by the provincial government and EkoRural. We also learned about agrobiodiversity and soil management. I am very proud of the biodiversity I now have in my chacras, of the fact that I can share new experiences (…). I want to see my entire family learn this expertise and continue applying it in their chacras instead of migrating from the region to learn things that have nothing to do with our culture and customs.”
Native seeds preservation and climate adaptation
Native seeds naturally adapt to local conditions, offering a critical advantage in shifting climates. Indigenous communities in the Andean highlands manage revolving seed banks to preserve these genetic resources. For example, the recovery of native potato varieties diversifies diets and ensures crops thrive in varying altitudes and temperatures.
Participatory plant breeding has further enhanced this resilience. Farmers work together to develop seed varieties that mature faster or resist disease. These resilient seeds ensure crops survive shorter growing seasons and changing weather patterns.
Soil and water conservation
Indigenous techniques like terracing, limited tillage, and organic fertilizers prevent soil erosion and improve fertility. Water harvesting systems and efficient micro-irrigation methods are also vital for adapting to drought.
Knowledge sharing and innovation
Farmer-to-farmer learning networks enable innovation and adaptability. Communities share strategies for soil management, crop rotation, and agrobiodiversity, strengthening collective resilience. Women, often leaders in these networks, play a pivotal role in circulating seeds and knowledge. Women farmers ensure effective strategies spread across regions to benefit more people.
Indigenous farming practices are blueprints for thriving in a changing climate. By integrating traditional knowledge with participatory innovation, these communities demonstrate how sustainable food systems can address local and global challenges.
Lessons for modern agriculture
Smallholder farmers in Ecuador manage just 20-30% of the country’s agricultural land but produce 50-70% of its food. Their labor-intensive, highly productive, and inherently sustainable methods show that agroecological farming can solve global food security challenges.
While challenges persist for family farmers in Ecuador, there is growing hope driven by the resilience of agroecological practices and the expanding networks supporting local food systems. The experiences of family farmers and the efforts of rural organizations offer a path forward, but they face opposition from entrenched systems focused on export-oriented agriculture.
A shift is needed toward a new agricultural development paradigm—one that recognizes agriculture’s multiple roles, moves away from industrial models, and empowers family farmers to innovate within their local contexts. This requires focusing on strengthening rural organizations and farmers’ skills and resources, using flexible frameworks that respect local values.
Rural development and research programs must support new methods of food production and distribution, fostering democratic, healthy food systems. Collaboration between smallholder farmers, public institutions, NGOs, universities, and urban communities is key to creating innovative, integrated solutions.
As climate change continues to disrupt conventional agriculture, the wisdom of Indigenous farmers provides valuable lessons for building resilience. Pacho Gangotena, farmer and agroecologist, puts it best:
“I believe that social change in agriculture will not come from above, from the governments. It will come from the thousands and millions of small farming families that are beginning to transform the entire productive spectrum. We are a tsunami that is on its way.“
Pacho Gangotena, farmer and agroecologist
You can read a more in-depth version of this article in our book Fertile Ground.
Invest in Indigenous farmers to spread real solutions
Your gift will directly impact smallholder farmers in the Global South and strengthen their capacity to build regenerative and equitable food and farming systems, inspire solutions to solve global challenges.
FAQ
What is indigenous farming?
Indigenous farming refers to the traditional agricultural practices developed by Indigenous communities over centuries. These are deeply rooted in local knowledge, culture, and a strong connection to the land. Indigenous farming systems prioritize biodiversity, sustainability, and community cooperation. They often focus on agroecological practices such as crop rotation, intercropping, organic fertilization, and the preservation of native seeds. Indigenous farmers work with nature’s rhythms, adapting to local ecosystems to ensure long-term food security while maintaining environmental balance.
What’s the difference between agrobiodiversity and biodiversity?
Biodiversity refers to the variety of all life forms—plants, animals, ecosystems, and genes—on Earth. It supports ecological processes like pollination and nutrient cycling, helping ecosystems thrive and adapt to change (FAO, 2020).
Agrobiodiversity focuses on the diversity of life within agricultural systems, including crops, livestock, and wild species. It supports sustainable farming, food security, and resilience to pests, diseases, and climate change.
In short, biodiversity is a broad term that covers all life, while agrobiodiversity specifically relates to the diversity needed for food production and farming systems.
What are Páramo systems?
Páramo systems are high-altitude ecosystems found in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in the Andes. These ecosystems occur typically between 3,000 to 5,000 meters above sea level. They’re characterized by unique plant and animal species adapted to cold temperatures, high winds, and variable rainfall. Páramos play a vital role in water regulation, acting as sponges that absorb and release water slowly, which helps maintain the flow of water to lower-altitude communities.
The biodiversity of páramo systems is essential for the health of many ecosystems in the Andean region. But they face increasing threats from climate change, land conversion for agriculture, and mining activities, underscoring the importance of supporting Indigenous farming practices in Ecuador.