Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Hypotheses
The following three hypotheses were defined for this research:
1 A technological model increases the productivity of natural resources, which
influences the organization of production activities.
2 Living in the vegetable-production unit hinders workers' access to goods and
social services.
3 There is a strong correlation between growing vegetables for market and the
use of toxic inputs that negatively affect the health of the population.
M
ETHODS
Field survey
The study area was limited to the green horticultural belt of the Rosario
peri-urban area, which includes Constitucio´ n, Rosario and San Lorenzo in
Santa Fe province, Argentina. For this study, a quantitative methodology was
used to delimit the objectives of the study and to define the variables.
Statistical tests were used. Also, cross-references with additional analysis
and the subsequent application of a qualitative methodology were used to
decipher the findings. Interviews of the key actors within both the production
units and the institutional web of health services provided qualitative
information.
The database used in this study was generated from the May 2000 to June
2001 census of the area, which identified 194 farms which were focused
exclusively on horticultural production (FAC-UNR, 2001). They were classified
into three modal types: high risk, medium risk and low risk (Table 9.2).
Table 9.2 Modal types for the production units
Modal type
Number of production units
High risk
97
Medium risk
36
Low risk
61
From the information obtained by the census, modal types were selected
to consider the different conditions and working environment of people
living and working there. These were in turn used to develop 'risk rankings'
based on the potential exposure of farmers to different variables such as
pesticides, heavy machinery and fatigue. The five main elements considered
were:
1
Size of the production unit.
