Agroecology and eco-agriculture, sustainable strategies in peasant farming systems

Abstract

The accelerated transformation of ecosystems, originated mainly by anthropic activities such as extensive cattle ranching and conventional agriculture, has helped to cause climatic variations, accentuating the loss of biodiversity. Under this premise, this research aims to characterize socioeconomic and biophysical aspects in the municipalities of Cabrera, Pasca, San Bernardo and Granada in the province of Sumapaz in Cundinamarca, to evaluate the coefficient of variation through the application of agroecological and eco-agricultural practices, under sustainability criteria and thus determine the degree of efficiency of twelve peasant farming systems-PFS-. The information was collected through surveys and participatory methodologies in the period between June 2018 and December 2019. The results obtained show differences σ±1, indicating a high dispersion in the application and implementation of agroecological and eco-agricultural practices, in addition, through the estimation criterion 3 peasant farming system obtained an index between 57 and 59%, qualified within the efficiency of the system as ‘weak’ with ‘relevant’ practices and 9 peasant farming system obtained an index of 61 to 73 %, representing a ‘constant’ efficiency of the peasant farming system with ‘adequate’ practices. It is evident that, under their traditional ways of life and cultural knowledge, the external influence of technology, socio-cultural changes, regional and national policies, as well as the lack of access to the market, generates a high external dependence on products or services, bringing with it ecological, economic and social consequences. It can be concluded that traditional agricultural practices tend to disappear and with them the diversity of crops, species, seeds, knowledge and cultural knowledge, as they are articulated with the implementation of modern agricultural techniques, based on specialization and mechanization of production, causing a decrease in biodiversity.