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Role of guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) in agroecological systems and in rural society

Abstract:

The present work had as objective to analyze the roles of the upbringing of guinea pigs in agricultural systems and in rural society, for this, indigenous and peasant organizations of the communities (+3200 masl) of the parish of Santa Rosa, province of Tungurahua, Ecuador were selected. Structured interview to 196 heads of family and applied the participant observation with key informants were carried out. It was estimated that 96% of farmers breed guinea pigs (38 animals/family), 72% breed in pools, 75.5 % have Creole guinea pigs and the 65.4% of the Familiar Domestic Units gave great importance to the upbringing of guinea pigs. In conclusion the upbringing of guinea pigs is an activity in full force and meets roles as: provide animal protein for family consumption, play ancestral culinary traditions, express solidarity, generate income, preserve practices of traditional medicine and produce organic fertilizer for agricultural systems. The analysis suggests to consider the entire context before introducing innovations livestock.