Ancestral practices in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) crop of two rural communities in the Tungurahua province of Ecuador

Abstract

The aim of this research was to analyze the permanence of ancestral practices used on growing potatoes, between the years 1950 and 2016. Two rural communities (Apatug and Puñachisag) were selected in the province of Tungurahua, Ecuador. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 63 key informants selected with the snowball and group interview methods. Has characterized the agricultural calendar, the use of varieties, associativity and observation of lunar phases. The results suggest the temporal relationship of potato planting and harvest with the feasts ancestral religious. These cycles were observed until the decade of the sixties and seventies. However, with the agriculture modernization, these calendars are modified. On the other hand, they also noted the predominance of improved varieties on native varieties. Most of the varieties cultivated by farmers, are Fripapa-Putza and Semichola and respond to the destination of the output (sales and/or family consumption); 65% practice monocultures and 58.5% consider the lunar phases for agricultural work. It is concluded the ancestral practices are at risk of extinction and need to be understood and rehabilitated by the new generations of peasants as well as technical programs for the transfer of technology to achieve a more sustainable agriculture.