Territorial development and systemic efficiency: the case of goats’ milk basin of Santiago del Estero (Argentina)

Abstract

This work gives us a screenshot on two concepts very studied at the present: the rural territorial development and efficiency (as the key to competitiveness) and propose to give visibility to the relation between these two these aspects, emphasizing the role of efficiency in order to confer strengthen to initiated development process. To approach these subjects, as a first instance this article describes the establishment of the milky goatish basin, historical process
where several activities and micro processes do not emerge neither from prestablished mechanisms nor conected between local actors, but rather support the idea that the the territory it is produced by the coordinated/uncoordinated
actions of all local actors. To conclude this section it is shown that the case studied has laid the preconditions for strengthening the process of development. In these way it can be cited an strong identity, a dynamic market that lack a deeper knowledge but is there, alliances that although they were very defined in their actions -as well as the time- were generating an attitude and an accumulation of social capital
towards the valuation of the specificities of the territory. To continue this paper analyzes the second concept, efficiency, is addressed through case studies and examples for each of the main links in the chain: the milking, industrialization and marketing. As a conclusion is raised that to devise strategies appointed to strengthen an initiated territorial development, as a first information and knowledge about the production
process. This would help to each step in the process of resolving their inefficiencies, which are usually transferred the rest of the production complex. Finally, it leaves open the question of who is in charge of inefficiencies in the sector and how it is assumed that cost.