Abstract

SANCHEZ CASTILLO, Verenice  and  GAMBOA TABARES, Jean Alexander. Theobroma cacao L. FARMER FIELD SCHOOLS IN LOWER CAGUAN (Experience, Results and Lessons Learned). Luna Azul [online]. 2014, n.38, pp.231-251. ISSN 1909-2474.

Location. The Bajo Caguan region is located on the banks of the Cagúan River, municipality of Cartagena del Chaira, southeast of the Department of Caquetá in the Colombian Amazon region. Objective. To share methodological and training results achieved through Theobroma cacao L. Farmer Field Schools developed by the University of the Amazon under the project: "Agronomic performance, phytosanitary evaluation and molecular characterization of promising Theobroma cacao L. clones from elite plant material present in productive systems in the Bajo Caguan municipality of Cartagena del Chairá" (RCT-Cagúan) that was supported by Colciencias, the Cocoa Committee of Bajo Caguan and Suncillas, "Chocaguán",and the San Isidro Labrador Parish. Methodology. The work was conducted from discovery learning, based on the farmers’ previous knowledge and experience, reflection, new information and its application. This involved training professionals as FFS facilitators, the participatory definition of curriculum, building of protocols and flexible application of these in the field. Results. The FFS - Cagúan, in its first training cycle managed to train 43 farmers and producers of Theobroma cacao L, which means that 78% of those who started the process achieved an increase of Knowledge Index (IIC) of 34%. One of the lessons learned and perhaps the most important one, is the need to incorporate to the FFS other work items that go beyond the technical and that are related to social work, affective and sensitivity strategies, which will help improve technological adoption processes in the field. Conclusions. The FFS-Caguan process, allowed farmers, among other things, to understand that finding the elites and/or genetic improvement is only one factor that will help improve their product, but the main responsibility lies precisely in themselves, in conducting cultural practices and crop management.

Keywords : FFSs; facilitator; farmer.

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