Resumen

BERRUETA SORIANO, Víctor M.  y  LIMON AGUIRRE, Fernando. Peasant Involvement in the Creation of Alternative Technology. Nueva antropol [online]. 2008, vol.21, n.68, pp.113-129. ISSN 0185-0636.

This study describes the process followed by a group of organic coffee producers from the state of Chiapas, Mexico, in the development of an alternative technology for the drying of coffee beans. Taking into account the knowledge and experience of both producers and researchers, we analyzed the production process and how to empower it at the drying phase. In this way, a solar coffee dryer was built following their own innovation process and considering available resources. This allowed for the creation of a kind of technology suitable to their socio-economic situation, their vision regarding the management of natural resources, and their cultural reality. The required criteria for building the dryer were defined in open meetings with local farmers, where it proved to be a good alternative in view of the benefits it provided.

Palabras llave : technological development; participative research; appropriate technology; coffee; Chiapas.