Labour utilization in peasant agriculture in the Lacuy peninsula, Ancud

Abstract

A research study was carried out in the Peninsula of Lacuy in the Northwest of Isla Grande, Chiloé (Southern Chile) with the purpose of collecting data in order to improve the diagnosis and participation of the main limitting factors in small-holdings existing in the region. Through static and dynamic surveys, we were able to identify at least three kinds of predominant production systems which combine animal and vegetable productions- bovine production being the main source of income for the peasant families. With the aim of ensuring the production objectives of the peasant family unit, the producer movilizes and orders the family workforce by means of a technical process of production based on ecological and climatic factors. Thus the possibility of making the production process viable, regarding functions of the systemic objectives and within the restrictions framework, is based on the family workforce, up to levels which include over-exploitation. In farms having enough workforce, the factor that limits productions is soil productivity.