Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure
10.10.
Farming tools used in the Philippines, Ecuador, and United States.
10.10
LABOR
Labor is a major cost in agricultural production. The work is also strenuous, often in
dirty, hot conditions. As a result, farm labor is usually left to poorly trained workers
who receive low pay. The information in Figure 10.11 shows that one worker can
manage about 1 ha of crops in the Philippines where the work is largely accomplished
without machinery. In Ecuador, the average farm size is larger but more farmers
have access to tractors. One person can manage about 2.5 ha. In the United States
the average size is about 195 ha. With more machinery, one person can manage
many hectares. In the case of Steve Murphy, they have a very efficient operation
where 4 people manage 1300 ha.
Another labor-related problem is the level of education needed in these countries.
In the Philippines, Donio works with only an elementary education. In Ecuador, A
ยด
da
has had training in farm management and specific technical enterprises. In the United
Figure
10.11.
Labor versus machinery use. (From Nation Master Agricultural Database.)
