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Objective: To characterize the productive system of a peasant farm to establish the strategy that propitiates its productive improvement, sustainability and agroecological transition. Materials and Methods: To characterize the entity of 40 ha of land in usufruct a structured survey, elaborated by the Local Agricultural Innovation, Program, was used. The information was also complemented with the Farm Plan methodology. The management of the productive system, main agroecological practices used, limitations and potentialities of the farm, were evaluated, as well as the transformations the farmer intends to make, the desired situation and agrobiodiversity. Results: The productions of the farm were 9 926 kg of milk year-1 and 8 740 kg of meat year-1. Two hundred forty-four plants of fruit trees, from 22 species, were found. The farm had varied productions, although it shows deficiencies that limit its development: pastures of low quality and availability, insufficient preserved feedstuffs, scarce utilization of organic fertilizers, deficient practices for pest management and little integration of animal husbandry and agricultural activities. Nevertheless, a strategy was elaborated for its agroecological transition. Conclusions: The farm shows deficiencies in the agricultural and animal husbandry area that limit its development. The inclusion of diverse crops, of better nutritional quality and higher availability, as well as the utilization of good conservationist and sustainable practices, will allow the transformation of the food basis and improvement of the productive system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To characterize the biodiversity and determine its degree of complexity, as basis for pest agroecological management in a farmer entity. Materials and Methods: In the studied farm, belonging to the Colón municipality, Matanzas province, biodiversity was quantified during one year. Margalef and Shannon (H') indexes were applied and the methodology proposed by Vázquez and Matienzo (2010) was used to determine the degree of complexity of biodiversity in the farm, which considers five components: noxious, functional, functional introduced, auxiliary and productive. Results: A richness of species grouped in 25 families was obtained, which stood out for their use as fruit, timber, forage and feed. In addition, the scarce number of biopesticide plants, of living barriers and fences, as well as the little complexity of functional and functional introduced biodiversity, was observed, which contributes to the incidence and inadequate agroecological management of pests in the productive system. Finally, the unit was qualified as moderately complex (31 %). Conclusions: Biodiversity was represented mainly by species from the families Poaceae and Fabaceae, followed by Anacardiaceae, Boraginaceae and Rutaceae. The farm was classified as moderately complex. The most determinant biodiversity components of that performance were the functional, functional introduced and noxious ones, which had negative repercussions on pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the influence of social capital on the local development processes of two municipalities of Matanzas. Materials and Methods: Social capital constituted the inquiry scope and was evaluated through a survey that comprised five aspects: associativity, confidence, participation, access to information and economic independence. For the work focal groups were formed, with 10 inhabitants, which belong to the 10 settlements of higher population concentration in two municipalities of Matanzas province, for a total of 100 surveyed people. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistics using frequency histograms. In addition, the study variables were correlated. All the analyses were carried out with the statistical package InfoStat®, version 1.1. Materials and Methods: Social capital constituted the inquiry scope and was evaluated through a survey that comprised five aspects: associativity, confidence, participation, access to information and economic independence. For the work focal groups were formed, with 10 inhabitants, which belong to the 10 settlements of higher population concentration in two municipalities of Matanzas province, for a total of 100 surveyed people. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistics using frequency histograms. In addition, the study variables were correlated. All the analyses were carried out with the statistical package InfoStat®, version 1.1. Conclusions: In the studied scenarios, social capital constitutes a key element as resource for development. In turn, it supports interpersonal and organizational interactions, and allows to understand that such capital is a product of the system of economic, political, cultural and institutional relations of the territory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to know the contribution of the innovation system to local development management in the Perico municipality -Matanzas province, Cuba-, a systematization exercise was carried out in the period 2013-2016. For such purpose, interviews were made to key actors, who were identified and classified according to the objective, the functions and interest of the study, as well as according to the practices implemented in the farms. The information was processed using the method of divergence and recurrence analysis1. In addition, the productive diversity, mercantile production and incomes of the involved farms; the flexibility of the current legislation with regards to the economic activity; the establishment of innovations, private and state initiative for innovation; the participatory processes and commercialization of local products, were evaluated. The incorporation of good practices of the innovation system allowed an increase of the farm mercantile production and incomes, which was favored by the direct relation between the originated transformations regarding diversity and practice, and the economic-productive indicators. The practices promoted from the local innovation system have allowed the modification of the ways to disseminate knowledge, by opening exchange and innovation spaces that stimulate the consolidation of alliances and links among the local sectors. However, no effective mechanisms of mobilization which would allow to overcome the citizens' lack of confidence and discouragement were achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to know the contribution of the innovation system to local development management in the Perico municipality -Matanzas province, Cuba-, a systematization exercise was carried out in the period 2013-2016. For such purpose, interviews were made to key actors, who were identified and classified according to the objective, the functions and interest of the study, as well as according to the practices implemented in the farms. The information was processed using the method of divergence and recurrence analysis1. In addition, the productive diversity, mercantile production and incomes of the involved farms; the flexibility of the current legislation with regards to the economic activity; the establishment of innovations, private and state initiative for innovation; the participatory processes and commercialization of local products, were evaluated. The incorporation of good practices of the innovation system allowed an increase of the farm mercantile production and incomes, which was favored by the direct relation between the originated transformations regarding diversity and practice, and the economic-productive indicators. The practices promoted from the local innovation system have allowed the modification of the ways to disseminate knowledge, by opening exchange and innovation spaces that stimulate the consolidation of alliances and links among the local sectors. However, no effective mechanisms of mobilization which would allow to overcome the citizens' lack of confidence and discouragement were achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The empowerment of rural women is essential for the promotion of sustainable agricultural development and the improvement of food security. This study was conducted in the Martí, Perico, Colón and Jagüey municipalities, of Matanzas province -Cuba-, in order to socialize the experience of the gender axis in the framework of the Local Agricultural Innovation Program (PIAL, for its initials in Spanish). The methodology used allowed to interrelate theory, practice, action and participation, through workshops, participant observation, animation dynamics, life histories and storm of aspirations. It could be noted that women suffer an excessive burden of tasks and responsibilities, proven by the fact that, besides helping in the work of the farm, they undertake domestic chores and children care; while men mostly perform the role of providers. Men aspire to achieve balance and harmony in the family, to improve home economics and farm prosperity; while women, although coinciding with this criterion, also want to excel professionally. The Local Agricultural Innovation Program in Matanzas province has achieved their integration to favor the social recognition of rural women, as well as their participation and influence on decision-making. The great challenge faced by development projects today is to achieve the empowerment of Cuban rural women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural women's empowerment is essential for the promotion of sustainable agricultural development and the improvement of food security. This study was conducted in the Martí, Perico, Colón and Jagüey municipalities, of Matanzas province -Cuba-, in order to socialize the experience of the gender topic in the framework of the Local Agricultural Innovation Program (PIAL, for its initials in Spanish). The methodology used allowed to interrelate theory, practice, action and participation, through workshops, participant observation, animation dynamics, life histories and storm of aspirations. It could be noted that women suffer an excessive burden of tasks and responsibilities, proven by the fact that, besides helping in the work of the farm, they undertake domestic chores and children care; while men mostly perform the role of providers. Men aspire to achieve balance and harmony in the family, to improve household economy and farm prosperity; while women, although coinciding with this criterion, also want to excel professionally. The Local Agricultural Innovation Program in Matanzas province has achieved their integration to favor the social recognition of rural women, as well as their participation and influence on decision-making. The great challenge faced by development projects today is to achieve the empowerment of Cuban rural women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted in the Colón and Martí municipalities -in Matanzas, Cuba-, in order to determine the level of food accessibility by the population. The analyzed indicators were: availability based on the offer in the sale points in all the people's councils and the total sales of the municipalities. For such purpose a total of 100 persons were interviewed, including farmers and customers, who were represented, proportionally, in 100 % of the people's councils (six in Martí and ten in Colón). A total of 49 sale points were visited in the two municipalities. Regarding the most offered products, vegetables occupied the first place with more than 30 % of the total offer, followed by fruits and roots and tubers, with 21 and 19 %, respectively; then meats appeared with 10 %, and rice with an offer of 5,6 % with regards to the total. Beans were last, with only 3,4 %. It is concluded that the offer of food products accessible for the population of the Martí and Colón municipalities is still poor in quantity, quality and variety. Nevertheless, it is possible to solve this situation in two ways: on the one hand giving priority to the quantity of foodstuffs that satisfy the demands; and on the other hand, increasing the production variety and quality through the installation of irrigation infrastructure, and by utilizing idle or deficiently used land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted in order to identify the training gaps regarding the managerial capacity; the current situation in institutions, organizations and projects with regards to the determination of the demand of capacity building on entrepreneurial culture and management in the farming sector; as well as the actors with possibilities of undertaking work as promoters, facilitators and trainers, who would respond to a training program proposed for years 2015-2017. For compiling the information surveys were applied to actors associated to the farming sector, in institutions and projects at national and territorial level; and workshops were also carried out. The demanders stated that 60% of their needs are framed in the logistics and infrastructure area, followed by capacity building to assume the transformations of the surroundings and the new ways to manage economic activities and people. However, for the providers, the equipment and capacity building on topics related to entrepreneurial culture and management constitute the relevant aspects. Fifty-five new economic activities were identified, from which 39 are related to providing services of technical advisory, introduction of technologies and talent formation. This determines the need to develop, in the actors of the institutions and contexts, the necessary capacities to guarantee the success of the new enterprises. In this sense, demanders as well as providers stated that the biggest efforts should be aimed at the advanced management of people and capacity building to promote innovation in the institutions. The work alerts about the importance of developing training programs on entrepreneurial culture, which are not only referred to the formation of enterprises and business plans, but also create values and expectations in people; so that they are receptors of the changes and also participants, in a such a way that they can respond to the constant transformations that are developed in the Cuban context at present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To propose a system of multidimensional indicators that allows to evaluate the sustainability of productive systems within the framework of municipal development programs. Materials and Methods: Indicators were adapted from multi-criteria methods and tools for the analysis of sustainability, which were standardized and weighed. The methodological proposal was validated in five farms in the Perico municipality, in Matanzas province. Results: The most influential indicators per dimension were: food self-sufficiency in the economic dimension, satisfaction of basic needs, housing and degree of acceptability of the productive system in the sociocultural dimension. Regarding the ecological dimension, the indicators linked to the study of crop systems, the analysis of water supply sources for agricultural use and its drainage, as well as those associated with the design of the system, stood out. The farms were biodiverse, although according to the degree of complexity of the design and management, they were moderately complex. The general sustainability index showed that only the Palo Lindo farm did not meet the sustainability criteria. Conclusions: The methodology for evaluating sustainability in its multiple dimensions is an important tool at the local level. The validation of this methodological proposal allows to find trends in the field of sustainability, establish their causes and propose medium-term solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To characterize the biodiversity and management of waste from the agricultural activity in La Palma farm, of the Perico municipality, Matanzas province, Cuba. Materials and Methods: In order to obtain information, a diagnosis was conducted in a farmer's farm through the combination of several tools, such as exploratory tours and informal interviews, formal surveys and semi-structured dialogs, with observations, measurements or both. The number of individuals of each species, which were characterized according to their purpose in the system, was quantified. Results: In the farm three subsystems stand out (temporary crops, permanent crops and animals). In the subsystem of permanent crops the natural pastures Dichanthium caricosum (L.) A. Camus, Dichanthium annulatum (Forssk.) Stapf and Paspalum notatum Alain ex Flügé are developed. Meanwhile, among the trees, Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Witt stands out with 2 386 individuals. This species can generate 5 t DM/year of non-edible woody biomass and, in turn, an estimate of 1,5 t of biochar. Conclusions: The functionality of this agroecosystem, represented by diversification and agriculture-animal husbandry integration, was proven. Biochar is a management alternative of waste from the agricultural activity in the farm, which can be enriched with cattle waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To characterize the biodiversity and management of waste from the agricultural activity in La Palma farm, of the Perico municipality, Matanzas province, Cuba. Materials and Methods: In order to obtain information, a diagnosis was conducted in a farmer's farm through the combination of several tools, such as exploratory tours and informal interviews, formal surveys and semi-structured dialogs, with observations, measurements or both. The number of individuals of each species, which were characterized according to their purpose in the system, was quantified. Results: In the farm three subsystems stand out (temporary crops, permanent crops and animals). In the subsystem of permanent crops the natural pastures Dichanthium caricosum (L.) A. Camus, Dichanthium annulatum (Forssk.) Stapf and Paspalum notatum Alain ex Flügé are developed. Meanwhile, among the trees, Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Witt stands out with 2 386 individuals. This species can generate 5 t DM/year of non-edible woody biomass and, in turn, an estimate of 1,5 t of biochar. Conclusions: The functionality of this agroecosystem, represented by diversification and agriculture-animal husbandry integration, was proven. Biochar is a waste management alternative in the farm, which can be enriched with cattle waste and non-edible biomass from the pruning of L. leucocephala. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]