Rural Chile Transformed: Lights and Shadows

Rural society in C hile has undergone profound change over the past few decades. For centuries, large haciendas had dominated C hile's C entral V alley. The agrarian reforms carried out by F rei and A llende – and to a greater extent the counter‐reform of P inochet – transformed that property structure with its generalized system of agricultural production for the domestic market. Recently, there has been a marked shift in emphasis towards specialization, exports and off‐farm agricultural resources. A seasonal labour market has arisen, employing predominantly female workers, whose precarious work conditions stand in marked contrast to the success of C hilean agricultural exports. This paper reviews the main trends in C hilean agriculture and rural society, drawing on data gathered principally in C olchagua P rovince, which is known for its fine export wines.