Business competitiveness strategies in sustainable agroforestry systems: a study of five farms in Mocache, los ríos province, Ecuador
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59169/pentaciencias.v8i4.1919Keywords:
agroforestry; business competitiveness; profitability; productive diversification; sustainability; value chainsAbstract
Business competitiveness in sustainable agroforestry systems depends on the ability to integrate production efficiency, income diversification, financial management, and market opportunities without compromising natural resources. This study aimed to analyze competitiveness strategies applicable to five agroforestry farms in Mocache, Los Ríos Province, Ecuador, by integrating scientific literature on economic performance, environmental sustainability, and value chain management. A documentary analysis of scientific studies on agroforestry was conducted, emphasizing economic, environmental, and productive performance, including research carried out in Ecuador. The literature indicates that product diversification can expand income sources, although its benefits depend on establishment costs, labor requirements, investment payback periods, and market conditions. Ecuadorian evidence on cacao agroforestry systems indicates that tree diversity can be increased without necessarily reducing the production or income of the main crop; however, profitability and labor requirements remain important challenges. Furthermore, farmer cooperation, processing, and collective marketing emerge as potential approaches to improve value capture, while environmental benefits need to be assessed separately from private farm income. Based on these findings, five strategic priorities are identified for production units in Mocache: component-based financial management, planned diversification, loss reduction, market differentiation, and improved sustainable practices. It is concluded that agroforestry competitiveness does not depend solely on species diversity, but on the coordination of productive, financial, environmental, and commercial decisions. Prioritizing these strategies for the five farms requires validating the findings against local production, cost, and income data.
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