The Andean Chakra and the Resilience of Rural Communities Facing the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Ecuadorian Sierra (Phase 2)

This project addresses the vulnerability of the agri-food system exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has impacted food security, especially for small producers. The research focuses on the central and northern highlands of Ecuador, employing a mixed approach of Participatory Action Research (PAR) within a critical paradigm. The main goal is to study the traditional production system known as the "Chakra," an associated polyculture model that promotes sustainability and rational resource use, contrasting it with conventional practices. The methodology includes four specific objectives: characterizing the implementation of Chakras through surveys and interviews; determining irrigation efficiency (using software like CropWat and pluviometry) and the water footprint in the El Pisque river basin; evaluating the economic productivity of water; and experimentally determining the impact of applying liquid bio-nutrients through irrigation systems on soil health (physicochemical and microbiological parameters) and crop yield. The aim is to generate local technical knowledge to strengthen food sovereignty and community resilience, counteracting trends toward intensification and monoculture.<br/><br/><b>Goal</b>: <br/>The project aims to analyze the implementation of the traditional "Chakra" production system in the central and northern Ecuadorian highlands, evaluating its water efficiency, water footprint, and soil health, while investigating the application of natural bio-nutrients through irrigation systems to propose resilient and sustainable alternatives against agri-food crises.<br/><br/><b>Research lines</b>: <br/>Sustainable water and soil management