Characterization of sweet potato production units (Ipomoea batata) in san luis, cañete

Abstract

Sweet potato cultivation in the Cañete Valley is of high economic, and food importance and for the cultivated area, it is the chief supplier of this root that enters the wholesale market of Lima. The objective of the study was to typify and characterize sweet potato production systems in the district of San Luis, Cañete, Lima. With a multidimensional approach, surveys with structured questions were applied to a representative sample of 50 producers whose main economic activity is based on sweet potato production, and using statistical techniques of multivariate analysis, new synthetic and conglomerate variables were defined. With the Principal component analysis (PCA), five new synthetic variables were defined that explained 74% of the variance; while with the cluster analysis small and medium producers were found, (no large producers were found). The 82% of the production systems practice monoculture systems and only 6% diversified agriculture with up to three crops per plot. Small producers cultivate an average of 3.56 ha, with an average yield of 20,548 kg/ha, which generates a net monthly income of 2078 PEN; while the medium producers of 6.11 ha, with an average yield of 21,780 kg/ha with 5811 PEN as monthly net income.