Short Commercialization Circuits and Productive Development of Agroecological Farmers in the Rural Andean Area of Ecuador

Christian Franco-Crespo, Otilia Vanessa Cordero-Ahiman (), Jorge Leonardo Vanegas and Dario García
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Christian Franco-Crespo: Facultad de Ciencia e Ingeniería en Alimentos y Biotecnología, Campus Huachi, Universidad Técnica de Ambato, Ambato 180104, Ecuador
Otilia Vanessa Cordero-Ahiman: Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Administrativas, Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca 010107, Ecuador
Jorge Leonardo Vanegas: Facultad de Ciencias Pecuarias, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH), Riobamba 060103, Ecuador
Dario García: Facultad de Ciencia e Ingeniería en Alimentos y Biotecnología, Campus Huachi, Universidad Técnica de Ambato, Ambato 180104, Ecuador

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 8, 1-13

Abstract: Fair commercialization networks represent a direct economic and social participation mechanism for small producers in rural areas. Women’s participation is a pillar in short commercialization, which incorporates family income and economic independence, as well as food diversification in the territory. This research aims to analyze short commercialization circuits (SCCs) for agroecological foods as a contribution to productive development in the rural Andean area of Pillaro canton. This research, developed between April 2019 and May 2020, involved a quantitative approach and cross-sectional data collection. The Farm Sustainability Indicators (IDEA) method was used for the analysis, which establishes three scales: agroecological, socio-territorial and economic sustainability. The results show that SSCs contribute to food security through low-cost food, diversification, and nutritional products. In addition, SCCs allow a closeness between producers and consumers that provides greater confidence in the products offered. The ratings of 35.0 for the sustainability scale, 30.52 for the socio-territorial scale, and 17.5 for the economic scale indicate that the short commercialization circuits observed in the area consist of a sustainable system that allows for the social and economic improvement of producers in the rural Andean area of Pillaro canton, as well as the improvement of the natural environment.

Keywords: food security; food sovereignty; sustainable systems; women’s income participation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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