Strategies and socio-productive relationships in pig backyard production

Abstract

Objective: The objective was to determine socio-economic relationships in backyard pig farms.

Design/methodology/approximation: Farms were from 1 to 8 sows. Data was collected with semi structured questionnaires and periodical monitoring. Production cost was determined with general cost formula and the countable effect of family labour was determined. Two groups were stablished: Group 1) Yong married couples; and Group 2) Consolidated elderly marriages without married suns. Social Network Analysis was used to determine strongness of the relations founded.

Results: Five social-productive relations were discovered: 1) food-producer relation; 2) piglet-“fattener”-butcher; 3) religious festivities-pigs; 4) year season-pig; and 5) pig producer-boar owner relation. Income was different when family labour was not counted.

Limitations/implications: Results showed a possibility to combine qualitative data and statistical modelling related with social and economic behavior of backyard pig farms and small scale production farms.