Ancestral Agricultural Knowledge and Productive Sustainability in the Maurak Indigenous Community, Gran Sabana, Venezuela.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24054/cyta.v11i1.4624Keywords:
traditional ecological knowledge, indigenous agroecosystems, agroecological resilience, community governance, agricultural sustainabilityAbstract
Ancestral agricultural knowledge plays a fundamental role in sustaining Indigenous production systems; however, ongoing environmental and sociocultural changes pose significant challenges to its continuity. Thus, the objective of this study was to understand how ancestral agricultural knowledge, traditional agricultural practices, adaptive innovation, and community governance interact and contribute to the productive sustainability of the Maurak indigenous community, located in the Gran Sabana region of Venezuela. A qualitative study with an ethnographic design was conducted, involving participant observation and in-depth interviews with four community members selected through purposive sampling. The data were examined using inductive coding and ethnographic analysis, resulting in the identification of four main analytical categories: intergenerational knowledge transmission, traditional agricultural practices, adaptive innovation, and community governance. The analysis showed that the sustainability of the agroecosystem is shaped by the interaction of traditional ecological knowledge, diversified farming practices, adaptive responses to environmental change, and collective governance mechanisms that regulate territorial management. The findings further indicate that the careful integration of context-appropriate innovations enhances the resilience of the agricultural system while preserving the cultural values and principles that guide Indigenous farming practices. Overall, the results suggest that productive sustainability in the Maurak community is grounded in an integrated socioecological model, where ancestral knowledge, locally adapted innovation, and community governance function as mutually reinforcing elements. These findings provide empirical evidence that highlights the strategic role of Indigenous agricultural knowledge in promoting sustainable rural development and supporting the long-term conservation of traditional agroecosystems.
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