Calidad de vida de los productores de cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) en el cantón El Carmen, Manabí.

Abstract

The objective of this research was to analyze the quality of life and good living conditions of cocoa producers in the canton of El Carmen. To this end, cocoa producers were surveyed on housing, household and crop production variables; a multivariate analysis was carried out to classify dimensions using hierarchical clustering techniques and comparison of means. The results show that the socioeconomic conditions of the producers of the Santa Maria parish of El Carmen canton are relatively good, since most producers have their own houses in good condition of walls, floors and roofs; they have good equipment in the home. However, they do not have a clothes dryer (98,78%), an odor extractor (98,78%), or a car (87,80%). In terms of communications services, they do not have conventional telephony and are limited in the acquisition and use of computers and fixed Internet. Some problematic aspects were identified in terms of the quality of life of cocoa producers, including the disposal of solid waste, separation of organic and inorganic garbage and drinking water.