MICROLOCALIZATION OF Phytelephas aequatorialis Spruce IN THE PREMISES OF THE AND͍L EXPERIMENTAL FARM, ORIENTED TO ITS COMMERCIALIZATION

MICROLOCALIZACIÓN DE Phytelephas aequatorialis Spruce EN LOS PREDIOS DE LA GRANJA EXPERIMENTAL AND͍L

Abstract

Due to gaps in the knowledge related to inventories and microlocation of Phytelephas aequatorialis in Ecuador, the amount of existing species and / or individuals is unknown, and in view of the high demand of the product it is a priority to inventory the species in a global manner, to know about the potential and sustainable uses of this plant. For the aforementioned, a study was carried out on the uses and potentialities of this taxa, in the lands of the Experimental Farm of Andil. By using a simple random sampling, 30 palms were randomly inventoried from the species under study, for which the stem morphology, general appearance / shape of the crown and the inflorescence were measured. Thus, environmental variables related to human intervention were taken into account. Through surveys made to three groups; Farmers, collection centers and workshops of manufacture and commercialization, it was possible to determine among other things that in the sector the resources of the tagua are not properly handled, in the collection centers, the arrival of raw material is intermittent, while at Sosote in Rocafuerte the raw material demand of the craft merchants is high. The intervention of the authorities and the academy play an indispensable role in order to promote the development of activities ranging from community workshops, associations, to training of the craftsman to develop the potential and proper management of the tagua in the sector from the plantation until the manufacturing.