Economic evaluation of the production of small onion farmers (Allium cepa L.) in municipalities of Achacachi and Ancoraimes of the La Paz city

Juana Colque Tancara

Abstract

Onion is the most consumed vegetable in Bolivia, that to obtain adequate production it is necessary to consider the factors that are required, such as land, capital and labor, which are indispensable in the production process. This work evaluated economically the production of small onion farmers in the municipality of Achacachi (Merke-Achacachi community) and Ancoraimes (Pocoata community). The data was collected through surveys to determine social characteristics, production system and production volumes of the onion crop. The variety with predominance for commercialization in both communities is Perillla Arequipeña, whose production is carried out only once a year. In Merke-Achacachi the cost of onion production was 1129.29 USD ha^-1, 95.51 USD higher than the production costs for one hectare of onion from the community of Pocoata that presented an average of 1033.78 USD ha^-1. The marketing channels found were producer-wholesaler-retailer-consumer; and producer-retailer-consumer. In Merke-Achacachi, the elasticity of production showed that at a 1% increase in labor, there will be a decrease in production of 0.188% and if inputs increase by 1%, production will decrease by 0.101% and that if the use of machinery is increased by 1%, production would increase by 0.019%. In Pocoata, the elasticity showed that at a 1% increase in labor, production will be reduced by 0.206%; if the use of machinery increases, production will decrease by 0.247%; and if the use of inputs increases by 1%, production will decrease by 0.187%. In both Merke-Achacachi and Pocoata communities onion production turned out to be of decreasing scale.