Ancestral and traditional agricultural knowledge in communes of the province of Santa Elena

Abstract

The present titling work was carried out in the communes La Entrada, San Jose?, Curi?a, Olo?n, Pajiza, Dos Mangas, Sitio Nuevo, Sinchal, Barcelona, Loma Alta, Bambil Collao, Febres Cordero, Colonche, Manantial de Colonche, Bambil Desecho, Manantial de Guangala, Cerezal Bellavista, Limoncito, Juntas del Paci?fico, Bellavista del Cerro, Sube y Baja, Sacachu?n, Zapotal, Caimito, Cie?naga, Olmedo, Tugaduaja, Engunga, Cerro Alto, Morrillo, San Miguel, Sucre y Villingota. The methodology used was an interview to 55 people, of which 62% over 65 years old, the questions topics was about planting, fertilization, irrigation, seed selection, pest and disease control, association and crop rotation, albarradas, in addition to cultural aspects that farmers took into account when starting an agricultural activity. As a result of the information collected, 16 agricultural practices were identified that were later classified into ten ancestral, five traditional and one contemporary. The practice most mentioned by farmers was sowing during winter or drizzle months, followed by the amadrinado of seeds, lunar phases influence in the sowing, harvesting or cutting of wood. The water of albarradas was destined for the cattle, to wash cllothes, to bathe and human consumption; however, farmers currently only use water for cattle, except El Morrillo, which started to use it to plant watermelon, corn and beans. The most practiced cultural aspect identified in some communes was the action of shaking hands each other communard to carry out agricultural activity.