Abstract

ALVARADO, Karen et al. Social, technological and productive situation of the coconut palm cultivation in Baracoa, Cuba. Pastos y Forrajes [online]. 2013, vol.36, n.2, pp.252-261. ISSN 0864-0394.

The Baracoa municipality, Cuba, treasures the highest volume of the national coconut production, which is mainly destined to the elaboration of the oil used by the Suchel firm in the soap and perfume industry. In recent years a drastic decrease of the dry coconut production has occurred: from 21 298 t in the eighties to 7 499,9 t in 2011. In order to learn the current status of the social, technological and productive dimensions of the coconut agroecosystems in this municipality, an exploratory, descriptive and non-experimental research was conducted, with a cross-sectional descriptive and group evolution longitudinal design. The techniques used were: questionnaire, content analysis and observation. The sample was constituted by 46,3 % of the production forms dedicated to the coconut palm cultivation and 96,2 % of the managers. It is concluded that cooperativism is the fundamental basis on which the coconut production system is supported, whose productive process is affected by the increasing lack of labor due to the ageing of the active labor force and the migration of young people, the application of a very low-input traditional technology, as well as the lack of sensitization of producers for the access to scientific-technical services. To design development strategies of coconut palm is recommended, including the crop association and farmer practices based on local knowledge, which contribute to the increase of yields and the families' quality of life

Keywords : coconut palm cultivation; participatory rural diagnosis.

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