COVID-19 Postpandemic Alternative to Increase Productivity: Mixed Agroforestry Design With Cocoa

Abstract

The historical moment that Venezuela is experiencing with the emergence of the disease caused by coronavirus December 2019 (COVID-19), converted into a pandemic, requires the creation of measures to mitigate the consequences of this disease and improve agricultural productivity. This study determined the components of the agroforestry system existing in the family production units "El Milagro" and "El Rey", Parish El Guapo, Bolivarian State of Miranda. The objective was to design a mixed agroforestry system with cocoa (Theobroma cacao L) in order to increase production and sustainability for the postpandemia stage. With a qualitative approach, Participatory Revaluation Research (IPR) and Logical Cultural Historical Analysis (AHCL) were used, based on interviews, walks, inspections and field tours with producers. As a result, an agroforestry design was obtained that introduced new woody and marketable species as companions in the cocoa cultivation, such as cedar (Cedrelaadorata L), apamate (Tabebuiapentaphyllas) and Heliconias spp. It is concluded that the species introduced into the novel mixed agroforestry system with cocoa are sustainable elements for the postpandemia COVID-19 stage. The incorporation of the Heliconiasspp makes it an innovation from an agro-ecological, economic and commercial point of view. In addition, the agroforestry system with these species could have agrotourism attraction and provide the appropriate conditions for the reproduction of the pollinating agent of cocoa, which may affect its productivity, which together with the woodwork, for its intrinsic value, would improve the socioeconomic condition of cocoacultor in the postpandemia COVID-19.