La transformación de los mercados laborales locales en la caficultura colombiana

The shortage of labor for the harvest of coffee has been an endemic problem throughout the history of this industry. In the past century, it was resolved by attracting laborers through sharecrop and land leasing contracts. Although tensions and social movements led to the eventual demise of these contacts, this labor recruiting strategy helped to consolidate a localization of labor markets. Coffee production has continued to rely mostly on a localized labor force. During years of expansion farmers prefer to offer higher piece rate payments in order to attract first the local urban resident and only as a last resort to attract some laborers from neighboring regions. This strategy contrasts with that of farmers elsewhere in the Americas.La escasez de trabajadores para la cosecha del café ha sido un problema serio durante toda la historia de esa industria. Inicialmente, el problema fue resuelto ofreciendo contratos de mediería o arriendo. Tensiones entre propietarios y medieros o arrendatarios llevaron a la expulsión de los mismos y su sustitución por asalariados que vivían en la localidad. Los productores cafeteros siguen dependiendo de una fuente de trabajadores localizados. Durante periodos de expansión han preferido pagar tasas más altas para atraer primero a todos los trabajadores de la región, incluyendo a los trabajadores urbanos. Esta estrategia ha consolidado la localización de los mercados laborales y contrasta con la usada por agricultores en otras regiones de las Américas

Management response to the demands of global fresh fruit markets: Rewarding harvesters with financial incentives

Abstract Competition in global fresh fruit markets is now much more intense than a decade ago. Producers and exporters face an increasing number of quality requirements and regulations that are costly and challenge established practices: paying harvesters by the amount they harvest and trying to control quality with sanctions. Based on a field study, this article discusses how lemon producers in northern Argentina are responding to these challenges; why some have responded only by introducing non-contractual innovations, while others by rewarding harvesters for careful performance to insure fruit quality. The findings elucidate arguments about the instrumentality of transaction costs on the choice of both managerial practices and forms of remunerating labourers. It also illustrates that added quality demands of foreign markets eased the task of harvesters, but had a varying effect on labourers' income.

Dynamics of Harvest Subcontracting

A historical perspective of three export agro-industries in Argentina (lemons, sweet citrus and tobacco) illustrates the range of factors that may foster subcontracting and the choice of subcontracting modalities. The case studies also illustrate that subcontracting is often a fragile strategy that leads to the eventual reabsorption of subcontracted tasks. We argue that the fragility of subcontracting the harvest rests on the inability of producers and labour contractors to negotiate a relationship that favours collaboration and problem solving. This failure is at the root of the high transaction costs of harvest subcontracting that force producers to resort to ancillary investments or sanctions, or to reabsorb some or all of the delegated tasks. A mismatch of resources and technical competence between producers and harvest labour contractors also contributes to inadequate performance of services. It is thus not surprising that harvest labour contractors are not always permanent fixtures; they may appear, disappear and reappear, particularly in fresh fruit export industries.Fil: Ortiz, Sutti. Boston University; Estados UnidosFil: Aparicio, Susana Teresa. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales. Instituto de Investigaciones "Gino Germani"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Tadeo, Nidia Silvia Juana. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentin

A snapshot of the nutritional status of Crohn’s disease among adolescents in Brazil: a prospective cross-sectional study

Abstract Background The relationship between nutrition and Crohn’s disease (CD) is complex and involves several therapeutic possibilities including: nutrition treatment for malnourished patients, optimization of growth and development, prevention of osteoporosis, first-line therapy for active disease, and maintenance of disease remission. In children and adolescents with CD, malnutrition is a common problem that adversely affects the prognosis. In at-risk adolescent CD patients, it is important to assess body composition, food intake, energy expenditure, nutrient balance and serum levels of nutrients before planning interventions for this population. The aim of this study was to provide a snapshot of the nutritional status of adolescents with CD in Brazil. Methods We prospectively selected 22 patients with mildly to moderately active CD, 29 patients with inactive CD and 35 controls (first-degree relatives of and in the same age bracket as the CD patients). The age range of participants was between 13.2 and 19.4 years old. We collected anthropometric data including weight, height, and body mass index (BMI), which were expressed as Z scores: weight-for-age, height-for-age and BMI-for-age, respectively, as well as using bioimpedance to determine body composition and assessing the Tanner stage. We also assessed macronutrients and micronutrients (serum levels and dietary intake of both). We used the chi-square test to determine whether any of the studied variables were associated with inactive or active CD. The level of significance was set at 5 % (p < 0.05). We have written informed parental consent for participation for any minors and written informed consent for any participants that were adults. Results The mean values for lean body mass, Tanner stage, height-for-age Z score and BMI-for-age Z score were lower in the active CD group than in the inactive CD and control groups (p < 0.05 for both). Compared with the controls, the CD patients showed significant differences in terms of the quality of dietary intake (particularly in caloric intake, dietary protein intake, dietary fiber intake, and micronutrient intake), which were reflected in the serum levels of nutrients, mainly vitamins A and E (p < 0.05). Conclusions Adolescents with CD (including those with mildly to moderately active or inactive disease) have a nutritional risk, which makes it important to conduct nutritional assessments in such patients