Cultural factors in cacao production at Manabí-Ecuador

Abstract

The cultural factors of a population are very relevant, since they frame the characteristics that differentiate the different human groups. The objective of this study was to investigate how cultural factors influence cocoa production, identifying the perspectives of small producers and managers of competent public institutions in the cocoa sector of the province of Manabí, taking the associativity scheme, since it is considered that this presents benefits within the marketing chain of small rural producers. The research was methodologically framed in the interpretive paradigm, collecting qualitative data, through techniques such as semi-structured interviews and Focus Group. The case study method was applied, which allowed the problem to be studied in depth and in a natural way. The main results obtained are oriented towards the fact that in the quality of cocoa the relevance of cultural factors and organic production stands out, but at the same time there is a notable concern on the part of small cocoa producers, affirming that the new generations choose to dedicate themselves to other activities, which could be counterproductive for agricultural activity.KEY WORDS: ludic methodology, imaginative pedagogy, teaching- learning.