Abstract

CARRANZA-TRINIDAD, Rodrigo G. et al. Competitiveness in the milk productive chain of Aguascalientes, México. Agrociencia [online]. 2007, vol.41, n.6, pp.701-709. ISSN 2521-9766.

The milk productive chain (MPC) in Aguascalientes contributes to diminish the national dependence on the imports of this product. The objective of this study was to discern the level of competitiveness and exchange relations of the different links of the MPC. Through systematic sampling (2004-2005), questionnaires were applied to 171 economic units (EU) in order to estimate benefit-cost relation (BCR), aggregate value (AV), and competitiveness criteria (CC). The MPC presented a heterogeneous mixture of coexisting economic units, organized as specialized system (modernized, integrated, large (AV), and positive BCR) or semi-specialized system (incipient technology, family labor, scarce AV, and negative BCR). Micro and small EU were partially incorporated horizontally (43.1%), maintaining links with intermediaries called routers (37.9%). Agribusiness (AB) was vertically coordinated backwards with primary producers. The MPC of EU dedicated to trade was close to the break-even point and unlike (AB), their CC is price-oriented rather than oriented towards milk product quality. The results suggest that EU competitiveness is directly related to their size, therefore, incorporation and coordination could be a useful alternative for small companies.

Keywords : Competitiveness criteria; benefit-cost-relation; added value.