Impacto socioeconómico de la actividad bananera en los pequeños productores del sitio Palestina, cantón El Guabo periodo 2024 2025

Abstract

The research entitled "Socioeconomic impact of banana activity on small producers in the Palestina site, El Guabo Canton, period 2024-2025" notes that banana production is one of the main agricultural and economic activities in the country. The fruit is exported to many countries worldwide due to its excellent quality, resulting in benefits for Ecuador, especially in the Coastal region where it is mostly produced. Banana cultivation is a significant source of employment for many inhabitants, leading to an improvement in the quality of life of families dependent on this activity. In this context, the Palestina site is constituted by small banana producers who depend on this labor for their main economic livelihood. Despite the importance of banana cultivation in the country, producers face severe challenges, including instability in the price of the box, which intermediaries mostly do not respect, high investment costs to start production, limited organizational capacity, limited access to economic credits, and the absence of technical training programs. These conditions affect not only the economic aspect but also the social aspect, generating serious difficulties in satisfying the basic needs of workers and their families. The general objective is to identify the socioeconomic impact of banana activity on small banana producers. Specific objectives include interpreting the viability of the banana box price, studying the reasons for disorganization, determining factors that affect the economy of workers and the ir families, and designing public policies for the benefit of the banana sector. The methodology presents a mixed approach, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches, allowing for a better description of the problem. Techniques such as surveys, interviews, and observation guides were designed to obtain important data that will serve as a basis for elaborating the proposal. The results obtained found some problems that harm small producers, including lack of organization, constant variation in the price of the fruit, economic challenges, and dependence on banana production. These barriers limit the productive capacity of producers, generating socioeconomic dysfunction. In response to these situations, state intervention is required to propose solutions that counteract these afflictions faced by the rural sector of Palestina. The proposal seeks to reform the current public policy on banana production, addressing issues of regulation, supervision, and control of the minimum price of bananas among small producers, organizations, or intermediaries, ensuring the correct commercialization of the fruit in the markets. The successful implementation of this proposal requires the participation of producers, workers, the community, and local authorities to implement strategies for agricultural development in the rural sector.