Ecuador to host Kulla Raymi Tungurahua 2026 ancestral seed fair

The Ecuadorian government, through the Ministry of Economic and Productive Development and the Tungurahua District Directorate, is promoting the VIII Seed and Ancestral Knowledge Exchange Fair, known as Kulla Raymi Tungurahua 2026. The event is scheduled for Thursday, September 17, at the Parque Provincial de la Familia in Ambato.

The fair aims to highlight the cultural and productive wealth of local communities, strengthen knowledge exchange, and promote the conservation of seeds essential to Andean agriculture. Kulla Raymi is a significant indigenous celebration linked to the September equinox, honoring land fertility and the spiritual connection to Pachamama.

The 2026 edition coincides with the International Year of the Female Farmer, focusing on the contributions of rural women to food production, seed conservation, and the transmission of ancestral knowledge. The ceremony will feature the chakana as a central symbol for rituals of gratitude and renewal for the upcoming agricultural cycle.