Agrosocieconomic diagnostic of the garlic farms in the Chama River’s basin, Mérida State - Venezuela

Abstract

In the Venezuelan Andes the cultivation of garlic is one of the vegetables with the greatest
growth in the last 13 years, especially in areas with heights above 1,200 m. An agrosocioeconomic
diagnosis was made in agricultural family units producing garlic in the basin of the
river Chama, Mérida-Venezuela, with the aim of guide and carry the culture of well-being for
optimal use of natural resources, without applying synthetic chemicals or genetically modified
organisms. In this sense, information was collected on the population of garlic farmer families
through surveys. These are characterized by being small (<5 ha), the yields are high, because
a surface of 524 ha has a yield of 9,929 kg/ha, unfortunately the use of synthetic agrochemicals
for the prevention and combat of diseases have a high cost in the health of farmers, their
families and consumers, as well as the environment.