El proceso de apropiación social del conocimiento en cooperativas de cacao del estado Táchira, Venezuela

摘要

This research aims to analyze the process of social appropriation of knowledge of the cocoa producers, grouped in the active cooperatives in the Tachira State (Venezuela), specifically in Samuel Dario Maldonado and Fernandez Feo municipalities, which have received technical assistance from the National Experimental University of Táchira (Universidad Nacional Experimental del Táchira, UNET). This mentioned assistance consists on a program execution for the rescue of Creole cocoa in the region. During the 1960s, this item was in the process of extinction due to the incorporation of cocoa hybrids (so called Outsiders and Trinitarians). The application of technical assistance accompanied by a scientific method has generated a process of social appropriation of knowledge for the producers, which is reflected in the growth factor in favor of the production improvement of Creole cocoa. Methodologically, it is a descriptive study with a field design or strategy. In the survey as an instrument for data collection from the original source, whose population and sample was determined by intentional sampling, the selection criterion was focused on cooperatives who received induction or benefits of the technical assistance program. Main findings are resumed as follows: 48% of cocoa techniques are learned from their fathers or any relative; techniques apprehended were applied in a 100%, since they test them first and they adopt them later; and, finally 92% of sample share their knowledge with their relatives and friends. Most of producers (92%) prefer field practices simultaneous to the theoretical technique explanation, thus, it is inferred their preference for ?learning by doing?. In addition, the most applied techniques were the maintenance and the training pruning, fermentation, weed control, the phytosanitary pruning and grafting.