Family Agriculture and Agro-Industries: productive subordination. cases of citrus and fruit growing in Argentina (2003-2016)

Abstract

This article proposes to investigate the link between family farming (AF) and agro-industries. The research is based on a qualitative methodology and uses quantitative information. In particular, two cases (citric belt of Middle Uruguay River and fruit growing of Patagonic Valleys) based on: i) the characteristics, evolution and transformation of the actors and agents in the primary phase and marketing; ii) the configuration of the world market and its relations with the identified production restructuring at local level. In both cases, the proliferation of various commitments and proactive strategies that align agribusiness agents linked to export under heterogeneously structured circuits is recorded. Family production becomes, tending in some cases to specialize in a commercial crop and reducing its productive diversity, making it possible stabilization of subsumption because the AF becomes mere supplier of commodities to agro-industry, relegating other crops and / or activities.