Persistencia campesina en el Ecuador: Vulnerabilidades socio-económicas y ambientales y acciones colectivas para enfrentarlas

Abstract

Nowadays there are not current studies about peasant’s livelihoods in Ecuador, that provide a better understanding about their assets, challenges and vulnerabilities that these peasants have to face. This investigation is focused on this deficiency, by selecting and analyzing peasants typologies based on institutional innovation, which could help them to persevere as productive units. This research chose typologies such as: Not associated Kichwas with a subsistence based economy; Associated Settlers producers of non-organic cacao to commercialize; Associated Kichwas producers of non-certified organic cacao to commercialize and Associated Kichwas producers-manufacturers-exporters of certified organic cacao. Working with typologies, involves that the sample does not have to be statistically representative, because the main aim of this investigation is obtaining analytic results that would prove and explain the reality between peasants and their potential to interact with other citizens in their country. This information was quantitative and qualitative using sources such as surveys, focus groups, daily routine dynamics and interviews. The results of this research let understand the context of peasant’s livelihoods in Ecuadorian Amazon, which is necessary to generate alternatives that aim to improve peasant’s lifestyle. Peasants are important for food sovereignty in Ecuador.