SUSTAINABILITY OF ROBUSTA COFFEE AGROECOSYSTEM IN THE PROVINCE OF COLÓN, PANAMA

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the sustainability of the robusta coffee agroecosystem (Coffea canephora), in the province of Colón, Panama. To do this, from data obtained through structured surveys, directed to 40 coffee producers in the province of Colón; A conglomerate analysis of k means with Euclidean distance was carried out to determine the conformation of groups of robusta coffee farms. The criteria being considered was the hectares cultivated with coffee, yield in kg/ha, number of people employed for the activity and shade management. A set of sustainability indicators and sub-indicators was developed for the social, economic and technical-environmental dimensions. Sustainability criteria were established on a scale from 1 – 5, that the average sustainability index for each dimension and the general sustainability index must be equal to or greater than 3. The results obtained reflected that there are five types of farms producing robusta coffee in Colón; Of which group 5 stood out, consisting of a farm that has more than seven hectares cultivated with coffee, with an average yield greater than 726 kg/ha, occupies 1 – 3 people in the activity and handles coffee with permanent shade. According to the sustainability analysis, all types of farm are sustainable in the environmental dimension, but none of them is socially or economically sustainable; In addition, in none of the cases the general sustainability index was equal to or greater than 3. These results reflect that, although the robusta coffee crop in Colón contributes to the protection of the environment in the Panama Canal basin, It is necessary to improve life quality of people and promote productive diversification, accompanied by empowerment and implementation of new technologies.