Sales prices of rice in Ecuador producer - consumer and their correlation links in the production chain

Abstract

In Ecuador, rice has economic and social importance, the area planted in 2013 was 414,096 hectares, with 93.94% in the provinces of Guayas and Los Rios. The chain, which begins with the producer, then the striker, pilador and / or agro-industry, the wholesaler, the retailer, and end consumers generates a more than $146 million economic movement. The aim of the research was to analyze the evolution of paddy and milled rice prices in the producer-consumer links and their correlation over the period 2000-2013. Data analysis was performed using the Stat graphics for individual variables by estimating regression and correlation equations. During the years of study individual variable, prices received by paddy rice producers was USD 0.23 kg^-1 average, with a range between USD 0.12 and USD 0.35 kg^-1, while the variable price per milled rice kilogram at the consumer level recorded, on average, USD 0.75, with a range between USD 0.47 and USD 1.05 kg^-1. It is concluded that producer prices are directly linked to the consumer price and these, in turn, are related to the level of consumption, so a price forecast for the next 12 years was performed.