Farmers or rural workers? A current social characterization of rural families of Atamisqui Department, Santiago del Estero

Abstract

It is often said that Santiago del Estero concentrates a large number of farmers. In this paper, we present a first approach to the subject in order to begin to demystify the idea. To do this, we use data obtained from the Familiar Characterization Form prepared by PROINDER in 2009 - implemented by the Secretariat for Family Agriculture and Rural Development, Delegation Santiago del Estero- and interviews conducted in villages of Atamisqui department in April 2010. The form used allows us, among other things, measure the weight that have different sources of income in total household income. This, together with the evidence gathered in interviews, allows us to know how live analyzed families. It notes that the most important support comes from the seasonal employee working developed in different rural activities (though especially in the deflowering of corn and harvesting blueberries) and various transfers (pensions, social benefits, remittances). These data would indicate, in this particular case, that the subject usually characterized as farmer hides, in reality, the atamisqueña rural working class.