Caracterización sociocultural y económica de producción de ovinos en comunidades indígenas, Tungurahua - Ecuador

Sheep production in Ecuador is mostly for self-consumption in rural areas and especially in indigenous communities, although some marketing practices may eventually be implemented with products derived from sheep farming, such as milk and wool, which, in addition come into play in the processes of sustaining cultural traditions. Starting from this conviction, this article aims to describe the sociocultural and economic characteristics of sheep production in the indigenous communities of the province of Tungurahua, among which the communities stand out, within the study area: Quisapincha, Tomabela, Chibuleos and the Salasacas. The methodology that guides the research is qualitative, with a documentary and field design, since it is, on the one hand, exposing some sociocultural features of the study population, as well as specifying economic variables of sheep production in the region. . The theoretical review shows the importance of sheep farming as a source of income for a good number of people from the indigenous communities in the country, also representing a factor of preservation of the native cultures settled in regions such as the Tungurahua Province. Among the conclusions derived from empirical observation, it can be added that in the indigenous sectors of the province, there is evidence of a lack of knowledge of the basic health systems that must be implemented on their farms, which affects production and the economic strength of production.