Transformation of the livestock production farm Dos Palmas, Las Tunas municipality, with agroecological bases

Mirlín Rodríguez Santiesteban

ABSTRACT
Agroecology is supported on the mechanisms of synergy and complementarity provided by biodiversity in agriculture. This concept, applied in the zones that show symptoms of deterioration and malfunction, is a choice that allows the restoration of the fundamental natural balances for their response to external events and the efficiency in the use of local characteristics and technological interventions, mainly the appropriate ones. The assumption of this concept constituted the reason for this study, given the problems shown by the selected farm. Two of the problems identified at present are deforestation and loss of biodiversity, which were present in the farm “Dos Palmas” of the UBPC “Combate de Levanón”, in the Villanueva locality, Las Tunas municipality. The objective of this work was to make a systemic analysis to evaluate, temporarily and spatially, the impact of diversification on the process of conversion towards agroecological systems and identify appropriate indicators. The farm has an area of 84 hectares, dedicated to livestock production, but with low-quality and deteriorating pasturelands. During the three evaluated years, the production diversity index (Shannon) increased considerably (from 0.57 at the beginning to 2.7 in the third year), while in the same period the introduction of new species of food crops, trees and animals allowed an increase of the species richness (Margalef) from 2.5 to 6.2. The incorporation of 22 tree species increased the tree diversity in the same period from 1.4 to 3.9. The agricultural as well as the livestock production increased, with the achievement of 25 agricultural products, the agricultural yield doubled with regards to that of the system at the beginning of the transformation. The validity of the methodology used for the evaluation and management of agroproductive systems was proven and it was confirmed that the processes of agricultural diversification guarantee the preservation of the environment and the correct utilization of natural resources, and in turn reduce the environmental contamination and guarantee the sustainable and sufficient food production. It is concluded that the case study conducted constitutes a model for the implementation under local conditions or similar to the studied ones and its socialization and introduction is recommended.