In Ecuador, there is a grave socioeconomic nutritional problem, and it is seen clearest in Imbabura province in the communities of Cuambo and La Rinconada. One of the biggest problems is inadequate food, due principally to the poor food storage and conservation habits. Considering this problem, it is necessary to deepen the knowledge of improved traditional techniques for storing and conserving food, through which families can store and manage their product better, controlling and avoiding losses due to insects, rodents, and climate, and guaranteeing conservation of the same. The investigation was oriented to implement alternative, improved storage and conservation technologies for the most-produced foods in the aforementioned communities. The alternative conservation technologies applied in the investigative process, with the active participation of the communities' families, were: a) GRANARY: A simple wooden structure constructed from local materials that permits storing corn on the cob, thus retaining its physical and organoleptic qualities while avoiding losses from insects and rodents. b) METAL SILO: A cylindrical, metal structure with a capacity up to 4 quintales [184 kg], used to store grains such as beans and corn, and cured with ash to avoid diseases such as weevils. c) CLAY JARS: A technique used anciently and in this study that has been used to store beans, corn, and peas. These containers are recommendable because they have thermoisolating characteristics and are resistant to insects and rodents. The cost of making clay jars is relatively small because customs, traditional methods of creation, and limited usage are still conserved. d) REED BASKETS: Receptacles used to store grains, principally beans and corn. This storage technique has been used more frequently in Cuambo, due to which in this study it was necessary to make use of them and increase their coverage in the community of La Rinconada. e) TUBER STORAGE: For this, the techniques used were: 1) Greening silo, which consists of an open wooden structure with a tile roof and with posts attached to the ground for seed potato storage beds, and 2) Pœsha, which consists of making a hole in the soil in order to keep potatoes and yucca in good condition. f) HOME REFRIDGERATOR: This consists of a wooden structure covered in cloth, rubber, and oxidation-resistant mesh. Its works simply: water is put in an upper receptacle. Water is absorbed through the cloth and passed to the lower chamber, keeping the inside of the refrigerator cold. This permits storage and conservation of fruit, vegetables, milk, etc. The refrigerator was used in the two communities in this project, with which it validity and effectiveness were proven. The refrigeration temperatures in La Rinconada and Cuambo were 12°C and 20°C, respectively. The study's results allowed rescuing and strengthening of the knowledge of home techniques for food storage and conservation. They were accepted and applied by the different families in the project, thus allowing sustainable family development.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BGMYU2/oai:scholarsarchive.byu.edu:etd-6337 |
| Date | 01 January 2003 |
| Creators | Caicedo Barrios, Marisol |
| Publisher | BYU ScholarsArchive |
| Source Sets | Brigham Young University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Theses and Dissertations |
| Coverage | Imbabura (Ecuador) |
| Rights | http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/ |
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