Costa Rican Agriculture: Crop Priorities and Country Policies

Excerpts from the report: This report is limited to a discussion of agricultural sector strategy for Costa Rica and AID's support to make that strategy work. It takes into account the capital and technical assistance being provided by other international agencies and the on-going activities by the GOCR and private agribusiness organizations in the country. In general, the orientation is that AID Support should be limited to those areas of agricultural development where there is inadequate support from other sources inside the country or outside. Thus, the traditional export commodities with their strong financial and operational foundations, while of paramount importance to the country's economy, do not require AID support. On the other hand, the problem of small farmers, particularly in food crops, is receiving scant assistance from any quarter despite their importance to the socio-political development of the country. Rural workers too, though currently enjoying relatively good earnings in the large plantations, are vulnerable to shifts in the market for the major export crops. Little is being done to deal with the eventuality of large numbers losing such employment. AID support of the GOCR efforts on behalf of these groups is urgently needed as part of any overall agricultural and country development assistance program.