Micro-Entrepreneurship and Dairy Value Chains in Rural Chone, Manabí

Abstract

This mixed-methods case study analyzed milk production in the local community microenterprise development in Sitio Río Grande, Chone Canton. Nowadays, there are 70 microentrepreneurs working in this activity, whose dairy products are produced and marketed by using craft or artisanal methods. Thus, this research was carried out from October and January 2025, lasted 120 days; data were collected through a nine-question guide that was gotten from bibliographic resources, and a survey model that was conducted among microentrepreneurs of the informal dairy sector in Sitio Río Grande. The findings reveal that the dairy product with the highest production and demand is cheese with 87% in the local market, while the production of other ones such as yogurt, butter, curd cheese and arequipe or dulce de leche is lower. The findings also show that 70% of local producers consider themselves to be small business owners due to the lack of economic resources, which prevents them from investing in a milk collection center. The results of the survey highlight that the change and innovation from the artisanal dairy product making process to the industrial one will let them have higher economic profits, as they have enough raw materials for dairy products. It is concluded that although the participation of microentrepreneurs in artisanal milk production is important, most of them think their processing techniques for dairy products must be improved, so that they can provide better customer service and build customer confidence.