Circuitos cortos de comercialización agroecológica en el Ecuador

Abstract

RESUMENEste artículo analiza los factores que fomentan la sostenibilidad de los circuitos cortos de comercialización de la Unión de Organizaciones Productoras Agroecológicas y de Comercialización Asociativa de Tungurahua (PACAT), en Ecuador. Con base en revisión documental, visitas y entrevistas a informantes clave, las autoras encontraron que la viabilidad de esta estrategia económica depende de la fortaleza de las instituciones informales que mantiene la organización social, lo que permite reducir los costos de transacción, mejorando de esta manera la eficiencia económica. Es así que los circuitos cortos de comercialización pueden contribuir al fomento de la producción agroecológica. Adicionalmente, el estudio indica los retos administrativos que las organizaciones enfrentan cuando intentan legalizarce.Palabras clave: circuitos cortos de comercialización, agroecología, Ecuador, economía popular y solidaria, mercados campesinos. ABSTRACT This article analyzes the factors that promote the sustainability of short circuits of marketing of the Unión de Organizaciones Productoras Agroecológicas y de Comercialización Asociativa de Tungurahua (PACAT) in Ecuador. Based on document review, key informant interviews and visits to their farms, the authors found that the viability of this economic strategy depends on the strength of informal institutions that sustain local organization and reduce transaction costs, thereby improving economic efficiency. In this way short circuit marketing can contribute to the proliferation of agro-ecological production. In addition, the study indicates the administrative challenges that informal organizations face when attempting to become formal, legal entities.

Characteristics and Motivations of Consumers of Direct Purchasing Channels and the Perceived Barriers to Alternative Food Purchase: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Ecuadorian Andes

“…In addition to the involvement of the State, for example through the direct markets program called "Circuitos Alternativos de Comercialización" [38], it is common that regional farmers themselves organize spaces to sell their products in urban areas, since cities represent an important market. Hence, despite the involvement and strong influence of rural farming families in agroecology, market spaces are often found in urban areas, reaching out to city dwellers seeking an alternative to the modern, industrial food system in which they are immersed [13,39].…”

“…However, our data suggest that direct markets, whether agroecological or not, are sufficiently accessible to peoples in diverse economic situations. In Ecuador, food prices linked to direct purchasing modalities may vary to some extent depending on the socioeconomic level of the neighborhoods where markets take place and the type of direct markets [39], as well as the market's price-setting processes. When consumers are more involved with the administration of the spaces and the provisioning of the produce (transportation, distribution, packing), prices tend to be more affordable for low-income populations [46].…”

“…When consumers are more involved with the administration of the spaces and the provisioning of the produce (transportation, distribution, packing), prices tend to be more affordable for low-income populations [46]. However, given the reduction of intermediaries, products sold in direct markets generally provide a fair income to the producer, while offering a price to the consumer equivalent to that of modern markets [7,18,39,47]. Our assessment of consumers' motivations to turn to direct markets also supports the hypothesis that product prices are equivalent to non-direct markets, or only slightly higher.…”

“…Prices vary according to an agreement system between producers and consumers in each fair. They can be comparable to conventional open markets or slightly higher [39] Agroecological production has an internal collaborative monitoring process called the "sistema participativo de Garantía" (SPG) [18].…”

Multivariate analysis of the adoption of cacao productive technologies: Evidence from a case study in Colombia

“…However, it could also be the case that farmers prefer to keep using their local materials. These may be more appropriately suited to their villages' specific conditions and more appealing to local demands (Contreras-Díaz et al, 2017). Grafting is the standard practice for the renewal of elder cacao trees whose productivity started decreasing, but properly doing such procedure usually requires direct learning from technical assistants since a graft failure may compromise the tree itself (Sodré & Gomes, 2019).…”