Determinación de la calidad del entorno natural a través de un monitoreo ambiental comunitario de dos agroecosistemas presentes en el cantón Cayambe, provincia de Pichincha

Abstract

This research proposes to determine the socio-environmental impact produced by agroecological and conventional practices through community environmental monitoring in three plots located in different areas of the Cayambe canton, Pichincha province; Ayora and Santa Rosa de Ayora, in order to compare the results that show the differences in the health, economic and environmental aspects of both agricultural productions. The present study was carried out in collaboration with the producers belonging to the BIOVIDA agroecological producers network and two conventional farmers. Agroecosystems were comprehensively observed in each farm under study. In each farm, water, soil and air analyzes were carried out in order to see what the state of these aspects is and correlate with the mode of production. Additionally, farmers were interviewed and surveyed to establish their perception of health by estimating a random sample. The results obtained from the physical, chemical and biological analyzes carried out on each of the research plots yielded similar results in each of the analyzed parameters, determining that the environmental quality of both agricultural systems is in similar conditions for optimal development. Of crops. Likewise, it was found that the most outstanding difference of both production models lies in the benefits obtained in the future in terms of perceived health, socioeconomic status and conservation of soil fertility. The surveys and interviews made it possible to differentiate the production aspects, the economic amount received before and during the pandemic, as well as the perception of health during the years of work that they have been doing. The results show a very evident contrast in each of the production models, mainly in the health and economic aspects. It was determined that prolonged exposure to pesticides causes health problems, mainly affecting women, causing infertility and spontaneous abortions. Regarding the economic aspect; the difference in land area, forms of production and soil conservation were relevant to determine that agroecology stands out in a better way in terms of sustainability.