Labor and productivity in the citrus industry of the Valdivia river valley, Santa Elena

Abstract

Citriculture in Ecuador has reached a high degree of dynamism. In the province of Santa Elena, due to its agricultural vocation, this activity constitutes the livelihood for a large number of families in the area; however, most of the farmers face conditions of poverty and state marginalization, so the objective of this research was to characterize the labor and productivity of citriculture, which is developed in the northern part of the province. The population included all the members of the Association of Citriculturists of the Valdivia River Valley, Santa Elena. A non-experimental quantitative methodological design was used for the study, based on the application of a form through surveys based on socioeconomic variables, production system and human talent. It was determined that a large number of small producers have a low level of education, that most of the farms are family farms due to the small size of their land, that the organization of work is carried out by the producer and his or her kinship, that it is managed and depends primarily on family work, that the technology is artisanal and is reflected in production, which can be improved with training and technical assistance from government and nongovernmental organizations. It is concluded that citriculture in the Valdivia River Valley is subsistence.