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Rural C hile Transformed: Lights and Shadows
Author(s) -
Bengoa José
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of agrarian change
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.63
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1471-0366
pISSN - 1471-0358
DOI - 10.1111/joac.12015
Subject(s) - agrarian society , agriculture , alley , work (physics) , contrast (vision) , economics , political science , economic geography , economy , agricultural economics , geography , engineering , artificial intelligence , computer science , mechanical engineering , archaeology
Rural society in C hile has undergone profound change over the past few decades. For centuries, large haciendas had dominated C hile's C entral V alley. The agrarian reforms carried out by F rei and A llende – and to a greater extent the counter‐reform of P inochet – transformed that property structure with its generalized system of agricultural production for the domestic market. Recently, there has been a marked shift in emphasis towards specialization, exports and off‐farm agricultural resources. A seasonal labour market has arisen, employing predominantly female workers, whose precarious work conditions stand in marked contrast to the success of C hilean agricultural exports. This paper reviews the main trends in C hilean agriculture and rural society, drawing on data gathered principally in C olchagua P rovince, which is known for its fine export wines.