Social factors limit the development of urban family farming in the Vista Alegre community, Santiago de Cuba

Abstract

This paper analyzes the social factors that limit the development of urban family farming in the Vista Alegre community of Santiago de Cuba. The study arises from the need to understand the sociocultural barriers that hinder this practice in a context where food security constitutes a national priority. The research was conducted using a mixed-methods approach with a qualitative predominance. Non-participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and questionnaires were employed as data collection techniques. The sample consisted of 100 community residents, as well as four key informants and eight experts linked to urban family farming. The results reveal that the social representation of land, production conditions, and the cultural capital embodied by families constitute the main limiting factors, discouraging the investment of time and learning while perpetuating food vulnerability. The findings also show that these limitations are not exclusively material but are rooted in complex social, cultural, and symbolic dynamics. These factors interact in a mutually reinforcing manner, restricting the expansion and sustainability of urban family farming within the community.