Rural associative enterprises www.empresasru rales.info
“A rural associative enterprise is a legally constituted association, conformed by small rural producers who have achieved favorable economic results and a professional management structure.�
RURALTER Platform and ASOCAM joined efforts for analyzing 35 case studies in 7 countries, implemented by means of InterInstitutional National Committees and with the crucial collaboration of associative enterprises. As a result of this regional study, ten success factors for the management of rural associative enterprises were identified, as well as orientating elements for supporting their diffusion and strengthening. This proposal intends to be a contribution for the formulation of policies and strategies for rural development.
In spite of the great differences in the development of the economic, legal and institutional environment of Latin American countries, the success factors of the Rural Associative Enterprises have demonstrated to be very similar and are closely linked between them.
Success factors in the Rural Associative Enterprises
I. Articulate to goods and services markets
IV. Get involved with the environment
Success factors
III. Promote entrepreneurial associativity
II. Build social capital
www.empresasrurales.info
Factores de éxito para las EMARs I Articulate to goods and services markets
II Build social capital III Promote entrepreneurial associativity
I.1. Enter differentiated markets and market positioning I.2 Offer profitable products with comparative advantages I.3 Innovate, generate value and develop quality permanently
II.1 Promote leadership, the vision of collectivity and the participation II.2 Function with transparency and democracy
III.1 Generate capability and efficiency in the professional team III.2 Establish alliances and agreements with different actors. III.3 Reach an equilibrium between collective and individual benefits.
IV Get involved with the environment
Polemic topics not yet solved… • Is articulation of small producers a requirement for market access? • Is rural associative enterprises promotion a strategy that promotes economic development? • What is the cost versus the benefit of producers’ association? • Are subsidies necessary and in which way? • Are personal or concentrated leaderships an advantage or a risk for the rural associative enterprises?
IV.1 Promote external support IV.2 Adapt to a changing environment.
Available documents on the topic Orientating elements for the management of Rural Associative Enterprises. Series “Reflections and Lessons Learned” Document www.asocam.org/biblioteca/ASO_EST_EMARs_Guia.pdf Regional Study Report “Rural Associative Enterprises’ Success Factors” Document http://www.asocam.org/biblioteca/ASO_EST_EMARS.pdf CD http://www.asocam.org/CD/Empresas%20Asociativas%20Rurales/ Synthesis of the Regional Study www.asocam.org/biblioteca/Asocam_Presentacion_EMAR.ppt National Reports of the Study Bolivia: http://www.asocam.org/CD/Empresas%20Asociativas%20Rurales/bolivia.htm Chile: http://www.asocam.org/CD/Empresas%20Asociativas%20Rurales/chile.htm Central America:: http://www.asocam.org/CD/Empresas%20Asociativas%20Rurales/centroamerica.htm Ecuador: http://www.asocam.org/CD/Empresas%20Asociativas%20Rurales/ecuador.htm Peru: http://www.asocam.org/CD/Empresas%20Asociativas%20Rurales/peru.htm Colombia: http://www.asocam.org/CD/Empresas%20Asociativas%20Rurales Estudio de caso, palmicultores en Colombia.doc Rural Associative Enterprises Thematic CD CD
(DECEMBER 2008)
www.asocam.org/CD/CD_EMARs_tematico/index.html
Acknowledgments: A special recognition to Patricia Camacho and Christian Marlin for their contributions to the proposal, as well as to RURALTER network for promoting a significant regional effort of inter-institutional analysis