Lack of knowledge and use of land for chickpea production in Norte de Santander

Abstract

Norte de Santander is one of the regions with the highest chickpea consumption in the country, making it a key ingredient in the region's traditional cuisine. However, chickpeas are not cultivated in the department, leaving local farmers struggling to source them from other markets. This article aims to determine the causes of the chickpea shortage in Norte de Santander. An explanatory methodology with a mixed-methods approach was used, focusing on farmers in general and including farmers from the Zulia, Cornejo, Santiago, and La Alejandra sectors as the sample. The diagnostic test revealed that the most influential factor is a lack of knowledge about chickpea cultivation, as the surveyed farmers primarily focus on other crops such as rice, wax palms, plantains, and coffee.