Agro-Ecological Zoning of Cacao Cultivation Through Spatial Analysis Methods: A Case Study Taura, Naranjal

The cacao value chain is the third most important after bananas and flowers. The sustainability of natural resources is a subject that should be considered in all aspects of production. In this sense arises the Agro-ecological zoning, a strategy used by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), which helps to characterize zones to determine their agricultural potential. In this work, we propose an approach for Agro-ecological zoning of cacao cultivation through spatial analysis methods. The study area is located in the area of Taura, Parroquia Taura, Canton Naranjal, Province of Guayas. The obtained results show that factors such as the lack of irrigation, poor drainage, poor soil depth, salinity, and sodicity have a negative influence on the cultivation of cacao. Therefore, it is recommended that the management of these factors should be improved with a good drainage network for the evacuation of excess water and elimination of salinity.