The Small Farmer In Uruguay

Author : Beatriz Oliver
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 405 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (253 download)

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Download or read book A Place for Family Farming written by Beatriz Oliver and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 405 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "In order to reverse the decline of small-scale farming in Latin America, many social movements on the political left are advocating "agroecology" and "food sovereignty". Agroecology is an approach that places biological and cultural diversity at the foundation of agricultural systems. The concept of food sovereignty relates to the orientation to international trade. Proponents of food sovereignty argue that the priority of food systems should focus on local producers and consumers, who should also decide how the system functions. In Uruguay, the creation of a citizens' proposal called "Sustainable Uruguay" has brought together rural and urban organizations in efforts to create an alternative plan for the country. A central principle is the need for national policies for food sovereignty.I carried out fieldwork to examine the connection between these ideas and the views and practices of horticultural family farmers in a locality in the northeast of the department of Canelones. This region has seen negative environmental impacts from the use of chemical fertilizers and monocropping. It was also affected by trade liberalization in the 1970s, which led to the collapse of a national agroindustry oriented to the domestic market. My analysis, based on research in the region and particularly with an organic cooperative, indicates that agroecology methods have been beneficial for farmer autonomy, health and environmental protection. Several of the local strategies and skills were crucial for making the transition to organic production.Vital to the relative success of organic producers has also been their participation in organizations to develop markets and to exert political influence. Many leaders of Uruguayan organizations representing small producers point out the cultural value of family farms and critique the production-driven model of agriculture. They demand differential policies for protection of family farms and for the revitalization of" --