Prácticas agroecológicas y bioculturales en la producción de camote (Ipomoea batatas) en la agricultura familiar campesina en Carchi, Ecuador

The study, conducted in the parish of San Vicente de Pusir, province of Carchi, focuses on the effectiveness of agroecological and biocultural practices in the production of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and its contribution to sustainability in rural systems. The main results highlight that 100% of farmers use biofertilizers, such as chicken manure, and 85.7% adopt ancestral techniques, such as sowing according to the lunar phases, which reduces the incidence of pests by 30-50%. Most farmers are men with an average age of 65 years and a basic educational level, and all consider the conservation of native varieties of sweet potato to be essential to improve disease resistance and adapt to climate change. Sweet potato is valued not only for its nutritional and medicinal benefits, but also for its economic profitability, suggesting that its cultivation and transformation into value-added products could generate significant benefits. Agroecology, which integrates sustainable practices and ancestral knowledge, is presented as a viable alternative to address the agrobiodiversity crisis and promote sustainability in agricultural production. This approach not only improves soil fertility and crop resilience but also strengthens the food sovereignty of rural communities. Bioculturality, which recognizes the interrelationship between biodiversity and traditional knowledge, is key to the conservation of native species and the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices. In conclusion, sweet potato has immense potential as an engine of economic and social development, highlighting its importance in food sovereignty and the improvement of nutrition in rural communities, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals, especially in the eradication of hunger and the promotion of responsible modes of production. The research not only assesses the current dynamics of sweet potato production in Ecuador, but also proposes strategies that integrate agroecology and bioculturality to revitalize sustainable and resilient agricultural systems, emphasizing how sweet potato can be a strategic crop to improve the local diet and ensure the sustainability of Andean agriculture in the long term.