Sumario: | In Chile, small-scale farmers are classified
according to old approaches from 1993 that
do not include changes occurred in the last
two decades. Maule is the region with most
rural population in Chile which represents a
significant stratum for development, innovation
and competitiveness. This study explores a new
approach of small-scale farmers -associated with
Family Farm Agriculture (AFC) - classification
in Chile and it describes a commercial profile
or AFC-1 for famers of the Maule Region. A
Cluster analysis to determine AFC-1 farmers
is used. The analysis includes four association
variables: Total Assets, Farm Income, Production
Costs and Management Indicators. The results
suggest that 16.4% of the farmers have a
commercial profile and they could stay out
support provided by the National Institute for
Agricultural Development (INDAP). This group of
farmers would not belong to AFC in short terms.
This fact could bring restriction to AFC-1 farmers
such as lack of credit access, less investment
incentives and technical assistance. Thus, it
would expect low process of technology adoption
and welfare improvement. New agrarian policies
must be warranted to support this important
group of famers with a commercial profile.
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