Mining and vulnerability of rural territories in the ecuadorian andes: Evidence from the Province of Azuay

Abstract

Family farming in the Ecuadorian Andes has been undergoing a situation of high vulnerability for several decades. Despite the recent renewal of political discourse in Ecuador and the beginning of the “Buen Vivir” era, the mining boom is an additional factor contributing to that vulnerability. In this context, the article, which is based on the results of a research project carried out in the parish of Victoria del Portete, province of Azuay, analyses the current situation of the rural population in the area, before going on to discuss the need to rethink the development of rural territories in Azuay and the rest of the Ecuadorian highlands, on the basis of strengthening rural organizations.