Resumen

ALVARO GOMEZ, M  y  AZOCAR, Aura. Áreas potenciales para el desarrollo del cultivo cacao en el Estado Mérida. Agronomía Trop. [online]. 2002, vol.52, n.4, pp.403-425. ISSN 0002-192X.

In this work we establish potential areas (optimum and with slight restrictions) for the cultivation of cacao in the state of Mérida. These were determined based on this crop’s agroecological requirements (temperature, precipitation and soils). Approximately 23.221,86 ha were delimited as appropriate and without restrictions for cultivation. A much larger area, 148.772,63 ha, with slight restrictions due to slope, stoniness and drainage, could be used with appropriate agronomic management. Having in mind that: i) the growing demand of the national and international industry for almonds of criollo cacao for the elaboration of manufactured products; ii) the value of the traditional cultivation of the cacao as a conservation tool and iii) at the present time there are only 4.020 cultivated hectareas in the state, which represents a minimum percentage of the potential area, it is recommended that state policies incentivate the cultivation of this important crop in order to increase cultivated areas and criollo cacao production at the national level.

Palabras clave : Theobroma cacao L.; potential areas; agroecological requirements.