Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Agricultural Research
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This study aimed to identify the socioeconomic and management determinants of cattle production in family farming units in Rio Congo, Darien. A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted with 36 producers, using a semi-structured questionnaire, descriptive statistical analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA). The results show that structural factors limit the production system. Farm size is strongly correlated with the number of animals (r = 0.72, p < 0.05), but land access is unequal: only 35.71 % of women are landowners, compared to 63.63 % of men. Most producers, especially women (92.85 %), reported that their income is insufficient to support their families. Furthermore, critical management gaps were identified, with 80% of producers lacking defined objectives and a low use of records (11.11 %), with access to inputs and high costs being the main perceived problems (86.11 %). It is concluded that family farming in the region faces a dual vulnerability: an external one, due to dependency on inputs, and an internal one, from deficient management practices. These findings underscore the need for policies that not only enhance management training but also incorporate an explicit gender perspective to address structural barriers to accessing resources.
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