Small farms in Costa Rica, as with many other countries, are family owned and operated. Medium sized farms are similar except they need to hire help. Tico farmers, regardless of whether or not they own a farm, have been working on farms basically their whole lives. This was the case with our guide at LIFE Monteverde today, Jairo. Jairo is a Nicaraguan native who worked as a farmhand in Costa Rica when he was young. Later is his life, he immigrated to Costa Rica and became a tour guide for LIFE Monteverde.
Immigrants like Jairo means there will be enough farmers in Costa Rica for the foreseeable future, but there may not be enough farms. Costa Ricans own the farms, and their children will inherit them. However, as education in Costa Rica improved, fewer children wanted to follow in their parents’ footsteps and become farmers. Rather than running a farm they don’t want, inheritors will sell them for a high price (land is in high demand) and pursue their passions. It’s great that Costa Rican children have more opportunities, but a lack of small farmers could let big farms solidify their dominance and Costa Rican might become more dependent of agriculture imports.
Not all things became worse with time. Advances in hydroponics allow farms to grow small crops using significantly less water by precisely watering plants and reusing water the plants don’t absorb. Better understanding of the composting process allows farmers to more efficiently turn plant waste into natural fertilizers. Technological advancements of this nature help farms run while consuming fewer resources and reducing harm to the environment.
If I were the child of a Tico farmer, my future would depend on the size of the farm. If I was born on a small farm, I would not want to become a farmer. I might become an environmentalist and get a college degree and/or job related to that. If it were a medium or large farm, I would become a farmer. Working on a farm is extremely tough, but if I was doing that kind of work since I was a child, I would be used to it and I would have help from other, more experienced employees. Furthermore, the future of a larger farm is much more secure than that of a small farm.