Peasant survival strategies in high Andean agroecosystems

A systemic approach research was carried out at the civil parish of Chugchilán in the Cotopaxi province in order to identify the survival peasant’s strategies in areas located over 3000 meters above the sea level. The results show a wide range of areas: cold heights of mountain ranges, lower flanks...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Tamayo Ortiz, Christian Vicente, Cepeda Bastidas, Darío Alexander, Sevillano Vásquez, Gustavo Fernando, Cisneros Quilligana, Kerlly Bethsabe, Montesdeoca Chulde, Diana Estefanía
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2023
País:Ecuador
Institución:Universidad Central del Ecuador
Repositorio:Revista Siembra
Idioma:español
inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:revistadigital.uce.edu.ec:article/4520
Acceso en línea:https://revistadigital.uce.edu.ec/index.php/SIEMBRA/article/view/4520
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Territorios de montaña
Lupinus mutabilis
sistemas de producción
economía campesina
ecoturismo
Mountain territories
production systems
peasant economy
ecotourism
Descripción
Sumario:A systemic approach research was carried out at the civil parish of Chugchilán in the Cotopaxi province in order to identify the survival peasant’s strategies in areas located over 3000 meters above the sea level. The results show a wide range of areas: cold heights of mountain ranges, lower flanks of the Quilotoa volcano, upper and lower slopes of the western cordillera and bottoms of the Toachi river basin. Each area has its own topographic, soil, climate particularities which affect the agriculture and livestock development. The peasants experiment some vulnerability conditions (low incomes) and deploy strategies to improve their situation: itinerant migration towards main cities in order to sell their labor; agricultural production for trade and personal consumption (60% and 40%); adding value to traditional crops as lupin (Lupinus mutabilis) for trade; and other non-agricultural income sources (building, handicrafts, services related to rural tourism). The social economic situation of the farmers may improve or get worse according to the agroecosystem they live in.