The commercial production of cut flowers has been and is an important economic and social activity in the temperate, cold and mild temperature valleys of Bolivia. Especially in the Cochabamba subtropical zone and valleys, cut flowers are part of the landscape and of the culture; the agricultural conditions of the region permit the cultivation of a wide variety of species.

Bolivian flower growing generates direct and indirect jobs. It is estimated that more than 8,000 persons depend on this industry in the valleys of Cochabamba alone, and approximately 15,000 at the national level. These figures include all of the players in the chain: service providers, wholesale vendors and retail vendors. A good part of the national floriculture is carried on by medium to small flower growers, whose production is destined for the national market.

The Cut Flowers Program of Fundación Valles was born in the year 2003 as part of the initiatives of new business opportunities for the small flower growers of the valleys.

The Program promotes the integral development of the chain, providing packages of agronomic management, harvest techniques, improvement in postharvest systems and development of regional and national markets for traditional cut flowers.

In addition, Fundación Valles has introduced more than 40 species and varieties of non-traditional flowers, which were evaluated in relation to their physiological and productive performance under the conditions in Cochabamba's temperate valleys. From this experience, the dissemination of these species was begun with those that performed better at the level of small producers, with the goal of diversifying their traditional production and improving the income generated by this activity.

Coverage: One municipality
Cochabamba (1)

• Improvement of more than 16 hectares of plantations of small producers of traditional floral species (roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, gladiolas and baby's breath), through innovations in the integrated management of each type (soil management and land preparation; use of quality seeds with guaranteed health; plant health checkups and pesticide management; efficient irrigation water and fertilization management; pruning, production and selection of graft bearers and grafting techniques)
• Training in construction of low cost greenhouses and cultivation of floral species under cover
• Introduction and establishment of commercial plantations of lisianthus, a new species tested by Fundación Valles
• Introduction and generation of modern harvest and postharvest technology for traditional and new cut flowers, to conserve market quality
• Training and application of GAP: implementation of pediluvios, control traps and records of pesticide application
• Implementation of good manufacturing practices through post harvest tables, hydration tubs and water storage tanks on farms, utilization of thorn removers and practices of flower selection and classification
• Strengthening of the capabilities of the flower growers in commercial, administrative and business management