Análisis de la agroecología, formas de organización, situación, económica, y educativa de agricultores de la parroquia de Sayausí

Abstract

The present study analyzed the current situation of farmers in the rural parish of Sayausí - Cuenca, prioritizing describing their economic, educational, organizational conditions and the level of application of agroecological principles in their productive activities. The methodology applied in this research was case analysis, using quantitative and qualitative techniques for a better understanding of the phenomenon studied. 211 structured surveys were carried out with farmers in the area and 8 in-depth semi-structured interviews. One aspect to highlight is that the sample was segmented between farmers organized in different agroecological associations and those who work independently, that is, not organized, in order to establish comparisons between both groups. Among the main findings, it is worth highlighting firstly that 6 out of every 10 farmers in Sayausí are women, 62.1%, a phenomenon that is directly linked to the so-called “feminization of agriculture” observed in rural areas. Likewise, it was found that 3 out of every 4 agricultural producers in the 76.3% area are integrated into agroecological organizations, evidencing the close relationship between organized participation and better levels of income and education among those who are part of these organizations. However, through this study, women's limited access to leadership and decision-making spaces within these organizations came to light. An encouraging fact is that the participating women showed on average a greater degree of application and commitment to the various principles of agroecology.