Producción de melón en Costa Rica: Efectos de incumplimiento de acuerdos por parte de empresas privadas extranjeras a empresas privadas nacionales.
Fecha
2006-11
Autores
Garron Montero, Mariela
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Editor
Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica
Resumen
La investigación que aquí se presenta tiene por objetivo evaluar la magnitud y los efectos económicos del incumplimiento de acuerdos comerciales sobre empresas del sector melonero en Costa Rica.
Con la adopción, a partir de la década de los ’80, de un nuevo modelo económico fundamentado en la liberalización comercial, se da un fuerte estímulo en el país a los productos no tradicionales, entre los que se encuentra el melón. Si bien se ha logrado un posicionamiento importante de este producto en los mercados internacionales, no obstante existen problemas en el cumplimiento de acuerdos que no habían sido estudiados ni cuantificados previo a este estudio y que, según los resultados, revisten gran importancia.
El incumplimiento de acuerdos comerciales por parte de empresas privadas comercializadoras en su relación con empresas productoras de melón del país, resulta ser uno de estos problemas, donde se desprende de la muestra que el 88% de los productores lo han tenido que enfrentar al menos una vez. De las 17 empresas consultadas en la muestra, a 14 de ellas les han incumplido su acuerdo comercial y dos productores afirman haber enfrentado el problema cinco veces con compradores distintos.
Los mecanismos legales a los que puede acudir el productor en caso de problemas de incumplimiento del acuerdo tienen características que no necesariamente se ajustan a los requerimientos específicos del productor. Por un lado está la Solución Alternativa de Controversias, que es una vía poco costosa pero que lleva a resoluciones no vinculantes. La otra opción, el Arbitraje, exige una cláusula previa, estipulada por escrito, de que existe la disposición de ambas partes a acudir a él en caso de controversias, lo que no está contenido en ningún acuerdo de los productores meloneros.
La cadena del melón de Costa Rica es orientada por la demanda del comprador o el retailer internacional. Se puede decir que los productores no venden sino que les compran y que muestran no ser proactivos comercialmente. Esto implica que la mayor parte del control de la cadena se encuentra en los mercados internacionales y no en los mercados nacionales, lo cual sin lugar a dudas afecta la forma de poder controlar eventos futuros en la comercialización internacional.
Esta investigación se abordará bajo dos enfoques: el enfoque institucional en primera instancia y, complementariamente, el tema de la liberalización comercial. En el primero se hace énfasis en el concepto de “acuerdo”, mientras en el segundo se presta especial atención a las prácticas comerciales promovidas y ejecutadas en el país, como escenario para el desarrollo de los acuerdos.
This research is focused on an evaluation of the magnitude and socioeconomic effects of nonfulfillment of agreements in commercial practices of the melon production sector in Costa Rica. In the 1980’s, Costa Rica adopted a new economic model based on commercial liberalization, where non-traditional products were promoted. The melon production was one of the mains. Nowadays, this product has conquered an important position on international markets but there exist significant problems on agreement fulfillment that haven’t been quantified nor studied. The unfulfillment of commercial agreements by private merchandisers trading with Costa Rican melon producers is one of these problems, where the sample shows that 88% of melon producers have faced an agreement breach at least once. From 17 enterprises comprising the sample, 14 have encountered this problem and two of them even faced it on five occasions with different merchandisers. The legal mechanisms available to encounter the unfulfillment of agreements are not necessarily suitable for small and mid-sized farmers. On one hand, there is the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), which is a non expensive method but its outcomes imply no obligation, which means it is not enforceable. On the other hand, the Arbitration method requires an arbitration clause in the contract, which is almost never stated in melon producers’ contracts. The Costa Rican melon chain is lead by the international retailer. In this sense it is possible to say that small and mid-sized melon farmers are not sellers and that instead, the retailers are their buyers. This farmers are not commercially proactive, so the chain is being controlled mainly by international markets, rather than national. This affects the way farmers can control future events on international commercialization. The theoretical framework of this paper is based on institutional economics, where emphasis is placed on the concept of agreement. A complementary frame will be that of commercial liberalization as the scenario where agreements are developed.
This research is focused on an evaluation of the magnitude and socioeconomic effects of nonfulfillment of agreements in commercial practices of the melon production sector in Costa Rica. In the 1980’s, Costa Rica adopted a new economic model based on commercial liberalization, where non-traditional products were promoted. The melon production was one of the mains. Nowadays, this product has conquered an important position on international markets but there exist significant problems on agreement fulfillment that haven’t been quantified nor studied. The unfulfillment of commercial agreements by private merchandisers trading with Costa Rican melon producers is one of these problems, where the sample shows that 88% of melon producers have faced an agreement breach at least once. From 17 enterprises comprising the sample, 14 have encountered this problem and two of them even faced it on five occasions with different merchandisers. The legal mechanisms available to encounter the unfulfillment of agreements are not necessarily suitable for small and mid-sized farmers. On one hand, there is the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), which is a non expensive method but its outcomes imply no obligation, which means it is not enforceable. On the other hand, the Arbitration method requires an arbitration clause in the contract, which is almost never stated in melon producers’ contracts. The Costa Rican melon chain is lead by the international retailer. In this sense it is possible to say that small and mid-sized melon farmers are not sellers and that instead, the retailers are their buyers. This farmers are not commercially proactive, so the chain is being controlled mainly by international markets, rather than national. This affects the way farmers can control future events on international commercialization. The theoretical framework of this paper is based on institutional economics, where emphasis is placed on the concept of agreement. A complementary frame will be that of commercial liberalization as the scenario where agreements are developed.
Descripción
Palabras clave
MELÓN, PRODUCCIÓN, EMPRESAS, ECONOMÍA, COSTA RICA