COORDINATION OF AGRIBUSINESS PRODUCTIVE SYSTEMS: ALTERNATIVES FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED PRODUCERS

Abstract

Based on the basic assumption that neither market nor hierarchy are enough structures, although important and fundamental for the coordination of productive systems, especially in the case of agribusiness companies where integration among the different links is a competitiveness factor, the present paper analyzes different strategies developed by agribusiness agents, giving major emphasis to the organization of small and medium-sized producers. As theoretical reference, it makes use of the Resources Dependence and the Transaction Costs Economy approaches, with chains being regarded as major companies. The empirical works were developed through three case studies that analyzed different ways of organization and coordination of the productive systems involving small and medium-sized rural properties. The findings stress the importance of these alternative structures and point to the need for these companies to be founded in cooperative actions by the different agents of the chains where they are inserted.