Resumen

PEREZ, J. J. et al. Sustainable Development of three communities of Farmers in Zulia state, Venezuela. Rev. Fac. Agron. [online]. 2002, vol.19, n.2, pp.149-162. ISSN 0378-7818.

The objective of this study was to determine the index of sustainable development (S³), in three communities of farmers in Zulia state, Venezuela. The research design utilized consisted of transverse description. The population under study was made up of 506 farmers, located in the communities La Estrella, Los Bienes and La Chinita, zone characterized as very dry tropical forest regions. A sample of 288 farmers was taken , and a social and economical survey, designed in order to measure the dimensions of the Sustainable Development (environmental, economical and social) was applied to this group.. The results showed that the three communities were at a critical level of sustainable development, with S³ values of 0.34, 0.36 0.38, for La Estrella, Los Bienes and La Chinita, respectively. Sustainable development was most affected by the environmental dimension in all three communities. The results showed that it is necessary to design and to execute plans and programs of rural development to promote and improve the sustainable development of these communities.

Palabras clave : Sustainable development; agricultural communities; index of sustainable development.