Influence Area

The program is designed to facilitate the socioeconomic development of small and medium farmers from an influence area defined by the cantons of Los Chiles, San Carlos, Guatuso, Upala, La Cruz, Liberia, Bagaces, Cañas and Tilaran. In this area, the communities with the lower index of Social Development of the country are located. In those places there is a rural population that suffers from a significant social and economic problem, having precarious life conditions, influenced, among others, for the crisis of the agricultural sector and the effects of the Nicaraguan migration.

This area includes 12.655 km2, 24% of the national territory. In this area 21.938 people works for the agricultural sector, that constitutes 8.6% of the Agricultural Economically Active Population of the country (PEAA).

This area limits to the north with Nicaragua. That makes this area a buffer zone for immigrants. This situation impacts the life quality of the inhabitants because the immigrants also have necessities in health, education, and housing.

Producer Profile 

The users of PROAGROIN belong to the Association of Producers (ASOPROAGROIN). At the time, there are 340 members. More than a half (53%) are devoted to the cultivation of pineapple, 36% to orange and 1.4% to other cultivations like roots and tubers.

The users of the Program are farmers with families in activities in the influence area of the Program. The family revenues oscillate between US $2500 and US $8000 per year. For them, the product generated in their property constitutes the main source of revenues; around 50% of their revenues depend on this production. This gives direct work in the own property to the home boss. The family composition is from 4 to 6 members, and the average age is between 35 and 56 years.

In reference to housing, more than 80% of the Project members have their own house. They also have access to water by means of an aqueduct and practically 90% of them have electricity.

In order to develop a new productive project, the program characterizes the user’s profile, their necessities, their knowledge and their cultivation abilities, considering a qualification range to measure the development level of the producer and reinforcing it according to their necessities.

The Program also evaluates their academic level, their cultivation experience, the handling of international norms of quality and agrochemicals, their experience in the execution of work programs, their investment and venturesome capacity.

Likewise, it is considered strategic the strengthening of the producers’ organizations, contributing with project administration capacity, giving them the possibility to compete in different markets and generating added value to the product.