Propuesta alternativa de fortalecimiento en la participación, desde la localidad parroquia Roberto Astudillo del cantón Milagro, en los encadenamientos de valor del sector cacaotero.

Abstract

The farmers' association Nuevos Horizontes needs to strengthen its productive chain, since even when cocoa is stored in its facilities, it is not able to expand its commercialization due to the lack of an effective production chain. Based on this, the general objective of the study is established as "To propose strengthening the value chain of cocoa production, through associativity in the canton of San Francisco de Milagro." The methodology consists of a qualitative study of an ethnographic type, a research instrument that uses interviews with cocoa producers from the Milagro canton, members of the farmers' association Nuevos Horizontes; 10 of these actors participated in the study. The results showed that they have limitations in terms of knowledge and technological innovation within cocoa production, that they must face a persistent intermediation in the national market and that they need to improve the quality of production. In conclusion, based on the limitations identified, a series of actions are proposed to strengthen the linkage and association of these producers, proposing actions to improve the quality of cocoa, managing agreements with transport companies and proposing actions to expand marketing through the development of a brand and presence on social networks, as well as commercials with cocoa processing companies, chocolate factories and exporters.