Nontraditional Export Crops in Guatemala: Effects on Production, Income, and Nutrition

摘要

The study of the commercialization of smallholder agriculture in Guatemala focuses on a cooperative of small farmers in the Western Highlands of the country. During the last decade the cooperative has had increasing success in growing export vegetables (snow peas, broccoli, cauliflower) that are not among their traditional crops, while maintaining their production of maize and beans, their traditional subsistence foods. The report is based on surveys in 1983 and 1985 of member and nonmember households and presents comparisons showing the changes in production, income, expenditures, employment, health, consumption, and nutrition that result from participation in the cooperative. The main relationships studied in the evaluation of increased commercialization are its effects on agricultural production (especially food) and on employment and income (on-farm and off-farm), and how these affect food and nonfood expenditures, food consumption, and nutrition. (Copyright (c) 1989 International Food Policy Research Institute.)