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Influence of socioeconomic variables in the naranjilla (Solanum quitoense Lam.) production in the rural community of Wamani in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Abstract:

Naranjilla (Solanum quitoense Lam.), is an economic input of vital importance for the Ecuadorian Amazon due to multiple benefits that offers, although it requires studies that provide a basis for the naranjilla cultivation management. The aim of this research was to determine the influence of socioeconomic variables on the naranjilla production from the rural community of Wamani, Napo province in the Ecuadorian Amazon. For the study, a group-Type questionnaire was conducted to 40 rural producers of naranjilla in the region, which was structured based on three levels, which included data on the property, crop management and socio-economic aspects. Additionally, a factor analysis was applied to reduce the variables dimensionality. The results showed a pattern of own land distribution which is favorable to develop the family economy. It was found that naranjilla cultivation is the most important item in the community, although there are other crops that guarantee the diversification of the productive systems, which is reflected in the socioeconomic indicators. The T-Test of independent samples, indicated that there are no significant differences among indicators for clean and chemical crop management (p≥0.05), which demonstrates the feasibility of use for the cultivation of clean naranjilla as a healthier product with additional benefits for rural producers. The factorial analysis have allowed the reduction of the 16 evaluated variables in three components associated with the economic, social and productive indicators, which explained 79.46% of the total accumulated variance.