Transitory crops that give more diversity to national agricultural production lose ground in Ecuador

Published 2021년 1월 2일

Tridge summary

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and national confinement, Ecuador maintained its food security through imports and the production of small and medium farmers, accounting for 70% of the country's agricultural food supply. However, a study highlighted a 60% decrease in export trade and a significant loss of temporary crop areas, which has led to a decline in production diversity. The pandemic also brought about changes, including an increase in direct sales and bartering, with women playing a crucial role. The lack of updated census data and ineffective soil protection policies are challenges, and there is a need for supportive policies and a shift towards sustainable and diverse agriculture. Criticism is directed towards the government's paternalistic approaches and inefficient use of infrastructure investments, emphasizing the potential for small-scale farmers to contribute to foreign exchange if provided with the necessary resources.

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Original content

Ecuador imported soybeans, wheat, apples and some seeds during the period of greatest national confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic that occurred between March and September, according to a study by the Ecuadorian Agrarian Problem Research System (Sipae). The fact reflects the high level of self-sufficiency and food security that exists in the country in the hands of the peasants. "70% of the food of agricultural origin in the country is produced by small and medium farmers, who own units of less than 10 hectares (ha), an average of 1.2 ha", says Francisco Hidalgo Flor, researcher at Sipae. The study finds that export trade fell by 60% in the same period, again highlighting the economy's dependence on oil and agricultural exports. Sipae estimates that in each year from 2000 to 2020 between 10,000 and 20,000 ha of temporary crops have been lost. "We went from having approximately one million hectares of this type of crops that give diversity to production in 2000 to about ...

Source: Eluniverso