Agroecological learning process from the practice of meliponiculture: an experience of peasant farmers in Santa Lucia, Nicaragua

Abstract

Agroecology—as practice, science, and politics, is the only alternative for creating sustainability, resilience and a new form of life that resignifi es peasant territories. In order to preserve life on the planet, actions and strategies are needed that lead an ever-greater number of farm families to take on agroecology as a form of production and form of life. This is a learning process in which distinct pedagogical mediators intervene, facilitating or obstructing learning. In this article, we analyze the learning process of agroecology from the practice of meliponiculture in Santa Lucia, Boaco, Nicaragua, where, after a series of peasant to peasant exchanges in meliponiculture, the agroecological movement has been revitalized. Between January and June 2018, 50 new families began producing melipona bees, and 25 of these families employ agroecological practices. In total, 115 boxes and 25 tree trunks were producing fi ve diff erent species melipona bees at the time of fi eld work in June 2019. In this process, pedagogical mediators have included the practical activity with meliponinos, the relationship with experiences agroecological promotors, local culture, and the territorial leadership and organizational strength of producer families