The analysis of the family context in rural communities can provide helpful insight to promote technology appropriation processes. For this study, the family context and its influence on the coffee tradition were investigated within the framework of a proposal to build knowledge and transfer technology. To address this aim, the construction of genograms was carried out, accompanied by semi-structured interviews with coffee women from a producer’s association in the department of Huila, Colombia. Key elements around their training process as coffee growers were analyzed based on the consolidation of a tradition derived from parents and grandparents, but with unknowns regarding their continuity in future generations. The findings showed a group of women, most of whom have lived and grown around coffee farming, where their role has changed from a position of support in the home to become leading actors in the coffee production processes. Opportunities and challenges were found in the face of the possibilities in the role of woman in the coffee growing development, but important questions arise regarding the role that the following generations may have in the future.
Keywords
Female Farmers, Familial, Rural Sector, Qualitative Research
Author Bio(s)
Germán Antonio Arboleda Muñoz (http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2900-880X) is an Agro-industrial Engineer, Master in Project and Organization Management and researcher at the Universidad del Cauca. He is currently Junior Research recognized by Minciencias. He is part of Research group of Science and Technology of Biomolecules of Agro-Industrial Interest in Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (Cytbia) of Universidad del Cauca (Popayan, Cauca). He has worked in the development of biodegradable packages. His current research interests include innovation management, rural development and social appropriation of knowledge. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to: garboleda@unicauca.edu.co.
Lily Marcela Palacios (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5788-6541) is an Agro-industrial Engineer, Master in Social Innovation Management at the Universidad ICESI, Colombia and a researcher at the Universidad del Cauca. She is part of Research group of Science and Technology of Biomolecules of Agro-Industrial Interest (Cytbia) in Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of Universidad del Cauca (Popayan, Cauca). She has experience in the development of science and technology, also her research interests are social innovation, environment and society and qualitative research. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to: lilymarcelap@unicauca.edu.co.
Hugo Portela Guarín, PhD (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5369-0848) received his bachelor's degree in Anthropology and her master's degree in Linguistics from the Universidad del Cauca. PhD in Anthropology from the University of Montreal. He is a professor of different bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs. He is part of the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences of the Universidad del Cauca and director of the Antropos research group. He has extensive experience in medical anthropology and environmental sciences. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to: hportela@unicauca.edu.co.
Héctor Samuel Villada Castillo (http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5557-3215) received his degree in Agro-industrial Engineering from Universidad La Gran Colombia. He received his PhD in Food Engineering from Universidad del Valle, Colombia. He is a professor in the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at the Universidad del Cauca and founder of the Cytbia research group. Currently he is ViceChancellor of Research. His research interests include: development of bioplastics, science, technology and society. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to: villada@unicauca.edu.co.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the project “Apropiación y uso de un empaque biodegradable para almácigos obtenido a partir de almidón de yuca como fortalecimiento de la cadena productiva del café en Cauca y Huila” financed by Departamento Administrativo de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (Colciencias) and Universidad del Cauca, from which this article is derived.
Arboleda-Muñoz, G. A.,
Palacios, L. M.,
Portela-Guarín, H.,
&
Villada-Castillo, H. S.
(2020).
Coffee Genogram: An Analysis of the Tradition of the Rural Family in Southwest Columbia.
The Qualitative Report,
25(11), 3864-3884.
https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2020.4267
