Income insecurity in agricultural activity and its influence on the social and solidarity economy in Ecuador

Abstract

This study analyzes how agricultural income insecurity has affected the creation of productive enterprises in the social and solidarity economy of Ecuador. It draws on several studies of the main causes of agricultural income insecurity and their subsequent evaluation, the status of peasant agriculture, and the historical evolution of social and solidarity economy enterprises. It accompanies this bibliographical review with field research focused on actors involved in productive enterprises – represented by peasant organizations from the social and solidarity economy based in the northwestern part of Pichincha province (Ecuador) – through a survey and several meetings to identify the reasons behind their ventures and confirm whether they conform with the social and solidarity economy policy. The results allow recognition of new forms of entrepreneurship through associativity, as well as providing information to government entities for future policies that encourage the development of this sector of the economy.