victor.verdezotov@ug.edu.ec

Characterization of cocoa (theobroma cacao, l.) producing farms in the canton of

yaguachi, Guayas Province

Caracterización de fincas productoras de cacao (theobroma cacao, l.) Nacional agroforestales

renovadas, en el cantón yaguachi, Provincia Guayas

Victor Hugo Verdezoto Vargas

Ph.D. Environmental Sciences, University of Guayaquil,

Ecuador. sergio.pinop@ug.edu.ec ,

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9254-1597

Cristian Fabian Verdezoto Castillo

B.S. Marketing, ESPOCH, Ecuador.

cristian.verdezoto@espoch.edu.ec, https://orcid.org/0000-

0002-2153-4699

Abstract

There is scarce information on the area under cocoa cultivation and inventory of species in renewed

producers of the "El Deseo" precinct, installed 15 farms, resulting in a total of 11.8873 ha of dynamic

agroforestry systems, being the area range from 0.3 to 2.0 hectares. The agroforestry systems evaluated,

agroforestry systems, it is recommended to complement with cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.), using

national cocoa varieties 800 and 801; and, to establish fruit, timber, biomass, musaceae and palm tree

crops, to optimize and generate value to the agroforestry systems.

Resumen

Existe escasa información de la superficie cultivada de cacao e inventario de especies en las fincas

agroforestales renovadas en la Unión de Organizaciones Campesinas Cacaoteras del Ecuador

agroforestales dinámicos en las fincas productoras de cacao nacional (Theobroma cacao L) e inventario

de la flora. Se utilizó el método de coordenada georreferenciada para determinar el área de la finca; y,

el sistema de posicionamiento global (GPS), para ubicar las especies que integran el sistema

utilizando variedades de cacao nacional 800 y 801; y, establecer cultivos de frutales, maderables,

biomasa, musáceas y palmeras, para optimizar y generar valor a los sistemas agroforestales.

Palabras Clave: cacao, coordenada georreferenciada, sistemas agroforestales, sistema de

posicionamiento global.

Introduction

"The agroforestry system implies the rationalization of sustainability that occurs through an

adequate and integral management of the combination of each of its components tree, shrub

and fruit tree." (Caicedo & Amanda, 2021). "The association of cash crops with forest species

is important because they contribute to the conservation of soil, fertility and preserve water

through the process of photosynthesis and increases water because it decreases

evapotranspiration; 6) protects biodiversity, as it becomes a refuge for birds, insects and other

beneficial animals; and, 7) produces economic income, with the sale of the products of

agricultural harvest, forestry and animal production." (Carbo, 2018).

"The disadvantage of agroforestry systems, occurs when: 1) too many trees or incompatible

species are implemented which can cause a decrease in crop production; 2) it can cause loss of

nutrients when wood and other forest products are harvested and exported outside the plot; 3)

the amount of water reaching the soil is reduced as it is intercepted by rain; 4) when trees are

species such as corn, bananas, plantains, cassava, timber trees or even implement animal

production, which improve soil nutrition and also contribute to the economy of small producers

until the cocoa crop begins to produce. Some of the advantages that can be obtained from

short-cycle crops are: 1) soil protection; 2) diversity of products (fruits, wood, firewood); 3)

increases the monetary income of farming families; 4) income is obtained throughout the year;

5) produces natural oxygen in such a way that it helps to conserve the environment; and, 6)

provides organic matter to the soil." (Intriago & Gortaire, 2018)..

"The cocoa crop has aspects very similar to a forest, so it is considered as an ecosystem created

by humans; however, its appearance will depend on the management provided by the producer

to it. There are several activities that affect its characteristics, such as the excessive use of

endangered. The cultivation of cocoa guarantees the long-term sustainability of resources due

to the protection of water sources, soil and other associated ecosystems, raising the

conservation potential of a region that allows expanding areas of biodiversity." (Larrea, 2008).

According to Imán (2019), in agroforestry systems, soil management techniques should be used

to reduce erosion risks and maintain or improve soil fertility, meeting the following objectives:

1) protect the soil surface with vegetation cover to reduce the impact of sun and rain, and reduce

erosion risks; 2) maintain organic matter content in the surface soil strata to improve nutrient

and water retention; 3) sustain a shallow root system to conserve soil structure and absorb

nutrients found in the surface layer; 4) reduce the removal of organic matter and nutrients after

harvesting, i.e., plant residues should be left in the soil to provide organic matter and nutrients;

necessary to go through the study area in order to measure the total area of the lots. It was

possible to obtain the necessary data, of which 12 farms were installed in 2016 and 3 farms in

Source: Association "El Deseo".

Prepared by: Authors.

Figure 1 shows the installation of agroforestry systems, where in 2016, 12 renewed agroforestry

farms producing national cocoa (Theobroma cacao, L.) were established; and, in 2017, 3 farms

The agroforestry systems evaluated in this study present variable results according to each

individual, species and family that compose it; a count of species planted in each area in the

evaluated farms has been made; in addition, according to sources recommended by the dynamic

agroforestry system of the UNOCACE Farm Plus Project (2020), the calculation allowed

making the relevant technical recommendations of the species that remain to be implemented

in the evaluated farms of the small national cocoa producers of the "El Deseo" precinct

associated with UNOCACE; this study agrees with the publication made by (Salvador et al.

2019), which states that the biological diversity of an agroforestry system can be measured

both by the richness of species and by the homogeneity of their distribution.

Characterization of the agroforestry system (SAF) N°01

than other species; and oak (Quercus robur L.), as one of the most important timber trees

established on the farm; according to (Guiracocha et al., 2001), agroforestry systems with

The items established in the SAF N°01, are catalogued as follows: cocoa (Theobroma cacao

L.); fruit trees such as caimito (Chrysophylum cainito, L.), mandarin lime (Citrus limonia L.),

mango (Mangifera indica L.), coffee (Coffea arabica L.), tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.);

timber species such as pachaco (Schizolobium parahybum), oak (Quercus robur L.),

guachapele (Albizia guachapele), niguito (Muntingia calabura L.); biomass such as achiote

(Bixa orellana L.) and guaba (Inga edulis L.); musaceae such as banana barraganete and

dominico (Musa paradisiaca L.).); and, it was identified that the farm does not have palm trees;

therefore, the farmer must necessarily plant this species on his farm; a study that agrees with

the publication by Guiracocha et al. (2001), where he states that the floristic structure of the

FFS are usually determined by fruit trees; while Sanchez & Sanchez (2016) and (Caicedo et al.

variety 800 and 801, 69 fruit trees (caimito, lemon, mandarin, mango, orange), 64 timber

species (pachaco, oak, guachapele, niguito), 25 palm trees (coconut, chontilla), 223 guaba and

achiote plants to recover the biomass; and 448 musaceous plants (banana barraganete,

dominico and guineo seda), so that the agroforestry system is dynamic, generates stable income

for the small producer, and is also environmentally friendly and compatible with the

environment.

The same procedure should be assumed for the following FFS N° 02 - 15, considering the area

(ha) of each farm and the number of plant species present in each agroforestry system, in order

to optimize each farm and make it profitable for the small cocoa producer; since the

biodiversity of the farm generates additional profits for the small producer and therefore the

Between 2016 and 2017, 15 farms were installed, obtaining a result of 11.88 ha of dynamic

agroforestry systems. Of all the farms evaluated, the extension ranges from 0.3 to 2.0 hectares,