Extensive sheep production in the Austral Patagonia: the case of Santa Cruz central zone

Abstract

The intention of the article is to analyze the central plateau of Santa Cruz in its socio-productive aspects. The main aim of the investigation, from which this work is a partial elaboration, is to establish: on the one hand, the viability of the traditional extensive ovine model in the region; on the other hand, the possibilities that the associative practices have to become the articulador axis of a productive relaunching. Here, we present a first socioeconomic and productive analysis in order to define the scene in which, at the moment, the extensive ovine production takes ahead. We include a description of the new actors who, nowadays, operate in the area of study, standing out among them, the transnational mining companies.