Análisis de experiencias de modelos asociativos como mecanismo para el desarrollo empresarial en la ruralidad

Abstract

The first point of the Peace Agreements with FARC points out the need to transform rurality in order to ensure development and the integration of abandoned regions into the market economy. Associative models between firms and small landholders should be an effective mechanism to transform rurality under a business perspective and improve farmers´ living conditions. In Colombia, there are associative models that arise both by private initiative and through public programs such as “Programa de Apoyo a Alianzas Productivas” (PAAP), “Programa de Transformación Productiva (PTP)”, “Agricultura por Contrato” and “Coseche y Venda a la Fija”. In this paper we study some experiences of associative models of diverse characteristics. Our purpose is to identify good and bad practices and advance policy recommendations. With that in mind, we collected quantitative and qualitative information through interviews, records and secondary information from firms and farmers from nine associative models in four sectors: palm oil, cocoa, milk and panela. Important results were found regarding issues such as remunerative prices, side-selling, unfair competition, productivity, access to credit, labor informality and public goods provision. The main recommendations refer to an appropriate adjustment between the length of technical assistance and crop characteristics, associative credits, establishing differential minimum wages by regions, adjusting the "Obras por Impuestos" program and improving INVIMA´s role in preventing unfair competition and encouraging suitable quality standards.