Factors limiting the value chain of business agricultural production

Abstract

Agricultural value chains are key to revitalizing rural Peru, but in the Lacramarca valley there are still obstacles that hinder their competitiveness. The objective of this study was to determine the factors that limit the competitiveness of the local agricultural value chain. A qualitative, applied, non-experimental and cross-sectional design was adopted. Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with intentionally selected agricultural producers. The transcripts were coded by constant comparison and axial coding, generating two core categories for the first objective and one core category for each remaining objective. The results reveal five critical areas of limitation: (1) access to inputs and technology; (2) empirical production management; (3) rudimentary logistics; (4) market asymmetries; (5) limited associativity and institutional support. It is concluded that competitiveness will remain limited unless public policies prioritize rural infrastructure, targeted credit lines and sustained extension programs, while producers simultaneously strengthen cooperativism, adopt quality standards and professionalize farm management. These findings provide a roadmap for those interested in improving the agricultural value chain in Lacramarca and, by extension, other similar Andean coastal valleys.