i Patrick W. Staib Anthropology This dissertation is approved, and it ...

The Farmers of Las Grietas
Upon meeting farmers for the first time, I asked them if they were organized and how
they felt about cooperative organization. I refer to this as “point blank” interviewing.
¿Usted es socio de una cooperativa? Are you a member of a cooperative? If so, why did
you join? Are there any issues that you have with your co-op? This method served the
dual purpose of legitimizing my role as a researcher and providing me with valuable first-
hand data that proved beneficial in more in-depth interviews.
Table 1. Why did you join a cooperative?
(% of 181 “Point Blank” Interviews)
Better Prices 95%
Development Projects 86%
Technical Assistance 31%
Social Programs 21%
Table 2. What are your issues of concerns about the cooperative?
(% of 181 “Point Blank” Interviews)
High administrative costs 85%
Export payment takes a long time 80%
High interest on pre-harvest financing 66%
Administrative transparency 64%
Lack of state support 11%
However, many farmers expressed the need for more holistic approaches to
community development and sustainability, for a better quality of life for the farmers of
San Juan. Of 68 door-to-door community surveys that I collected, 41 listed the necessity
for better social services, such as educational and health programs in Las Grietas. As
Adrian González stated,
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