Resumen

VILLALOBOS, Y; RINCON, N; GUTIERREZ, W  y  MARTINEZ, E. Sustainable development in the cassava Manihot esculenta Crantz production system in Mara municipality, Zulia state, Venezuela. Rev. Fac. Agron. [online]. 2007, vol.24, n.2, pp.367-387. ISSN 0378-7818.

The purpose of this study was to estimate the sustainable development index (S³) in the cassava Manihot esculenta Crantz production system in Mara municipality, Zulia state. A descriptive study in the field was done with a non experimental and transectional design. Population was formed by 294 production units from which a no probabilistic sample of 22% was taken by following an intentional method. The technique of data survey consisted of an interview, and a structure questionnaire with 67 questions was used as an instrument. The information was processed using the statistical package SAS, and results were analyzed with descriptive statistic. In order to determine the index of sustainable development (S³) the indicatory of the dimensions social, economical and environmental were evaluated. Results showed that the production system of cassava is characterized by having and unstable situation in the social, economical and environmental aspect. The S³ was 0,47 and was mainly influenced by the social sustainability index.

Palabras clave : sustainable development; production system; Manihot esculenta.