Transferencia de un paquete tecnológico de microorganismos mejoradores de suelo y biocontroladores para el cultivo de Chayote en Zona de Ujarrás de Cartago

The cultivation of chayote takes place in Ujarrás de Paraíso de Cartago. It is a highly significant crop
for the canton of Paraíso, as it is exported to various countries around the world, mainly to the United
States. Many families depend on this crop, both directly and indirectly. There are small plots of
farmers who deliver their harvests to ten companies that handle the exports. It is estimated that there
are about 400 direct farmers and that over 1,500 families depend on this crop. The planting area
amounts to 500 hectares, distributed across the localities of Ujarrás, Santiago, Cachi, and Cervantes.
The target population of this project consists of farmers belonging to the Chamber of Chayote
Growers and Exporters of Ujarrás and independent farmers in the area. They will be provided with
lectures, workshops, or field days where they will be trained in the use, management, and application
of beneficial microorganisms in chayote production.
The problem faced by this crop is the dependence on agrochemical applications. Additionally, there
are restrictions on the molecules that can be applied, as some countries have restricted or banned
agrochemicals for this crop. Another important factor is the absence of studies on soil microbiology
and its effects on production and diseases. The importance of the project lies in the fact that chayote
is a crop from the province of Cartago, and no research has been conducted on soil microbiology or
the application of microorganism packages to replace the products currently used in this crop. As with
all crops, the purchase of agrochemical products represents a high cost within the production chain.
Therefore, if we can replace some agrochemicals with biological products, we would be reducing
these costs, as well as having a positive impact on the environment. This is because all
microorganisms used in agriculture do not pose contamination problems to the environment,
consumers, or workers.
This extension project aims to address the stated problem by promoting the use of beneficial
microorganisms (antagonists of diseases and pests, organic matter degrading bacteria, and nutrientsolubilizing bacteria) to improve crop production in a sustainable manner, reducing the dependence
on imported agrochemicals, which often face availability issues in the market. The project is
significant because chayote is considered a very important crop in the province of Cartago. Moreover,
it is an export crop that provides employment for many low-educated workers and is also a highly
consumed fruit in the Costa Rican diet due to its nutraceutical properties.

Biotecnología ambiental: uso de microorganismos benéficos en aplicaciones
agrícolas.