Abstract

CEPPARO DE GROSSO, María Eugenia. Development of an agricultural project in the southern marginal region of Argentinean Patagonia: The case of Gobernador Gregores. Invest. Geog [online]. 2006, n.61, pp.58-74. ISSN 2448-7279.

Santa Cruz, an Argentinean province located in the south of the territory, presents an environment seriously affected by the fragility of the natural conditions, and a socioeconomic activity essentially based on livestock in rural areas, and on state service in urban ones. In the 1990s, a project, supported by State organisms, and financed by local banking corporations was carried out to contribute to the development of agricultural project, according to the limited agrarian conditions of the area. A small number of croppers who were eager to develop any activity that could diversify the typically rural model were forced to experience the first problems aroused by this project. This paper discusses the importance of doing research on small marginal communities; the conflict between the theoretical framework of marginality in first world economies and the one in developing countries; and the efforts of social actors from a community in the centre of Southern Patagonia motivated by the prospect of local growth.

Keywords : Patagonia; marginality; innovative projects; local development; local actors.