Traditional Farmers Producing for the Agro-Export Market: Causes and Consequences of Such Productive Change

Abstract

Introduction. In the municipality of El Peñol, Antioquia, the incursion of small and medium producers to the agricultural export market of gulupa (Passifflora edulis Sims) is currently a recognized reality. Subject which, assumed as a case study, contributes to the understanding of a particular phenomenon: the movement of traditional-local farmers towards production for the international market, an issue addressed by this research. Objective. Identify and analyze the causes and consequences of the incursion of small and medium producers from El Peñol, Antioquia, to the agricultural export market of the gulupa. Materials and methods. The research was qualitative and focused on analyzing the multiple narratives presented by the local actors, associated with the gulupa crops about the causes and consequences of the phenomenon studied. The information was collected through in-depth interviews, subsequently analyzing its content. Results. Among the causes of the global market incursion, the advantages offered by the crop are highlighted due to the instability of the prices of traditional products, the prior knowledge of the gulupa and the opportunity to move towards a cleaner agriculture. Among the consequences are the improvement of family socioeconomic conditions, the reaffirmation of the agricultural vocation of small and medium producers and the high dependence on intermediation carried out by agro-exporting companies. Conclusions. The causes and consequences of productive change have a multidimensional and ambivalent character, a situation that leads to explore the phenomenon beyond its economic dimension, while simultaneously presenting simultaneously its benefits and risks.