Linking Smallholders to the New Agricultural Economy: the case of the Plataformas de Concertación in Ecuador

Romina Cavatassi (1, 2) , Mario González-Flores (3) , Paul C Winters (4) , Jorge Andrade-Piedra (5) , Patricio Espinosa (5) , Graham Thiele (6)

1 Economic and Social Development
2 Environmental Economics and Natural Resource Group
3 Inter-American Development Bank
4 Economics
5 CIP - International Potato Center [Quito]
6 CIP - International Potato Center [Lima]

This paper examines the challenges of linking smallholders to high-value food markets by looking at the experience of the Plataformas program in the Ecuadorian Sierra. Multiple evaluation methods are employed to ensure identification of program impact. The findings suggest that the program successfully improved the welfare of beneficiary farmers, as measured by yields and gross margins. These benefits are achieved through improving the efficiency of agricultural production and through selling at higher prices. No significant secondary health or environmental effects were found. Overall, the program provides clear evidence that combining production support with facilitating market access can be successful.

Mots clés: Social Sciences & Humanities

Domaines: Sciences de l'Homme et Société

Romina Cavatassi, Mario González-Flores, Paul C Winters, Jorge Andrade-Piedra, Patricio Espinosa, et al.. Linking Smallholders to the New Agricultural Economy: the case of the Plataformas de Concertación in Ecuador. The Journal of Development Studies, 2011, pp.1. ⟨10.1080/00220388.2010.536221⟩. ⟨hal-00721636⟩