Indigenous Family Labor in Agroforestry Systems in the Context of Global Transformations: The Case of the Inga and Camëntsá Communities in Putumayo, Colombia

Abstract

The Camëntsá and Inga indigenous communities still rely on agroforestry systems for their livelihood attainment, although globalization effects have also reached their settlements. Agroforestry systems, especially home gardens, are experiencing reduced size and species diversity and therefore gradually disappearing. This research aims to determine the indigenous family labor contribution to agroforestry systems as a strategy to secure their livelihoods. The methods include a census, household survey, interviews with key informants, and direct observation. Family labor contributes to reducing production costs in agroforestry systems. Three groups of households were identified from the cluster analysis to determine the family labor contribution: smaller, medium-sized, and larger farms. The smaller farms register better economic indicators compared to the other two groups. In addition, they show a positive cost–benefit ratio and profitability, which is explained by lower production costs compared to the gross income generated. Although larger farms have higher gross revenues, these households also assume higher production costs and incur higher input costs. Medium-sized farms face the worst scenario. There is a relationship between the use of family labor and the achievement of livelihoods related to economic indicators and biodiversity and the variety of species harvested on farms and used for self-consumption. Family labor helps to ensure local food security and generate income.

Carbon Stock Assessment in Silvopastoral Systems along an Elevational Gradient: A Study from Cattle Producers in the Sumaco Biosphere Reserve, Ecuadorian Amazon

“…These are also species of high commercial value, while the Inga spp. provide food and incorporate nitrogen into the soil [53][54][55]; evidencing that the most common tree species found throughout the altitudinal gradient are of interest to provide shade, food and commercial timber similar to the findings of [56], and they are part of the native tree diversity, this could be due to the fact that the producers in the study area still have between 17% and 40% of remaining forests in the surroundings of the pastures [21].…”

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“…Motiur et al [140] found that agroforestry practices contributed 15.9 and 11.8 percent of household income in southwest and northern Bangladesh, respectively. As a result, according to the number of workers, agroforestry practices continue to be the main source of income and food for rural communities in the study area [22,97,100,141]. However, the insignifcance of agroforestry practices in terms of income generation can be attributed to a variety of factors.…”

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“…There are also 20 percent of farmers with just 2 family members, typically young, newly married farmers. Families with multiple members may include extended family or multiple family heads, often engaging in coffee farming to reduce labor costs, enhance local food security, and generate extra income [16]. The composition of a farmer's household can significantly influence their economic activities.…”