The Importance of Sociocultural Factors in the Competitiveness of the Rural Company. The Case of the Apiarian Company Miel Tierra Grande

Abstract

This research analyzes if the socio-cultural resources that a company has in rural areas have an influence on their competitiveness and development. The object of this study is a rural productive organization named Miel Tierra Grande, located in the community of Hueyitlalpan of the state of Guerrero, Mexico. Their main production is the beekeeping, dedicated to the production of hives for the extraction of honey and its derivatives such as pollen, propolis and royal jelly, which are transformed to generate other products, ranging from the food industry to personal care and hygiene products. To analyze their competitiveness, semi-structured interviews were conducted: the first to one of the partners of the company in charge of the production plant, eight interviews with locals and one with the commissioner. In addition, six visits were made to observe the process of production, distribution and marketing of the products; visits were made to outlets outside the town. A search for bibliohemerography related to the social and cultural aspects of rural organizations was carried out. The rural company analyzed has a style of organization derived from the sociocultural characteristics of the population; it is one of the most important companies in the central region of the state. Sociocultural factors such as religion, relationship with environment, population, family relations and local knowledge were found to influence the construction of a form of organization in the rural enterprise making it capable of being competitive. The concept of competitiveness applied to rural businesses was described as the ability of an organized system of individuals to generate quality goods and services, at minimum costs, that are able to remain in the market (local, regional, national or foreign), in order to achieve an economic and social benefit.