Productive systems of mestizo community members on the Caribbean Coast North of Nicaragua

Abstract

This research has characterized the productive systems, starting from the experiences of the mestizo families of the community of Caño Seco of the Municipality of Siuna of Nicaragua's North Caribbean Coast. This is a qualitative study based on an ethnographic design where a survey, interview and visits of productive areas were provided to 12 community families. The main results show that the productive systems work under the productive logic of family business, where most of the production is destined to the market; Agricultural activities are focused on annual crops such as maize, beans, cassava and musaceae, with high dependence on agrochemicals, which increases production costs, which in turn causes environmental damage; The most important productive activity is livestock, focused on raising cattle with dual purpose (milk-meat). This exerts greater pressure on the natural resources, since it demands great extensions of land for pastures; in the majority of cases, the livestock production is diversified with the raising of pigs and hens handled under an extensive system little technified, and another important aspect, is that women and children are involved in productive systems, however, are not very taken into account in decision-making and have little access to resources, mainly land.