Socio-economic characterization of the traditional agroforestry cacao system (Theobroma cacao L.)
Cacao farmers face many challenges to increase yield while adjusting their farms to future environmental and socio-economic uncertainties. Improving the management practices of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) cultivation systems requires knowledge of their baseline and the determining factors affecti...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Universidad de Nariño
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Revista de Ciencias Agrícolas |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.22267/rcia.213802.156 |
| Summary: | Cacao farmers face many challenges to increase yield while adjusting their
farms to future environmental and socio-economic uncertainties. Improving
the management practices of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) cultivation
systems requires knowledge of their baseline and the determining factors
affecting them. The main goal of this research was to characterize traditional
cacao agroforestry systems of smallholder farmers in the Municipality of
Tumaco, Nariño, Colombia. Using a semi-structured survey and a sample
of 218 farmers, the socioeconomic characteristics of the cacao production
system were analyzed. Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) and
principal component analysis (PCA) grouped and discriminated the cacao
growers. The PCA formed five components representing 50.86% of the total
variability, while the ACM grouped them into five factors explaining 29.82%
of the variability. The cacao cultivation is a traditional activity of smallholder
farmers with very low yields. The age of the farmers is over 50 years old,
with despicable levels of education; there was no evidence of generational
change. The study shows that the traditional cacao production system is not
an attractive activity for young people or investors given its marginality and
low economic projection. Timely strategies and subsequent early actions
will be imperative to face the main environmental, socio-economic, and
productive challenges, which will allow the cacao activity to be a source of
well-being for cacao growers and the environment in the region. |
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| ISSN: | 0120-0135 2256-2273 |