SPONTANEOUS AGRICULTURAL COLONIZATION IN ECUADOR

Resumen

ABSTRACT The performance of farms and farm families in agricultural cooperatives in three fairly recently colonized areas of coastal Ecuador is examined in order to evaluate the effectiveness of planning for agricultural development. The most newly settled area has received little outside assistance. The other two have been affected by a major development program, but in varying degree because of differences in accessibility. Investments in physical and social infrastructure have not greatly improved farm performance. Gross productivity per hectare and per work day are lower in the “most developed” area than in the “least developed,” and the former also uses much poorly paid peon labor. The normal family lot size should be much smaller than the current fifty hectares for more intensive land use, greater social equality, and more efficient provision of social services. Adequate family incomes could still be obtained with the use of simple, inexpensive, and familiar land management techniques.