Abstract

PENA, María Elena; URDANETA, Fátima  and  CASANOVA, Ángel. Approach to the Strategic Planning Concept for Agriculture and Livestock Production . Revista Venezolana de Gerencia [online]. 2010, vol.15, n.50, pp.273-293. ISSN 1315-9984.

The cattle-raising industry, as an economic unit for decision-making in animal production, requires planning according to sector characteristics, which differ in their concept from other economic authors. Based on this viewpoint, a study is proposed to formulate an approach to the concept of strategic livestock production planning, based on analysis of empirical evidence contrasted with the theoretical referent for strategic planning proposed by Donnelly et al. (1994). Farms registered in the Programa de Investigación de Sistemas Agropecuarios (PISA) (Research Program for Agriculture and Livestock Systems) at the University of Zulia were selected, using a stratified random sample with proportional fixation; the information collected was treated statistically with frequency distribution. Results show that 38.30% of the producers indicate that being considered as respectable individuals among producers in the zone is an attribute of business vision. Family tradition is declared as a business mission. Corporative objectives are designed as a function of physical productivity (42.55%). Emphasis is on animal management, not on managing human talent, infrastructure and equipment. The strategic planning carried out by the producers differs from the existing theoretical referents; however, one cannot assume that no managerial criteria are applied to these productive systems. Strategic planning for agricultural and livestock production is a complex process of decision making carried out in a dynamic and flexible manner, which considers the economic rationale as its principle component for designing objectives and operative plans and gives attention to immediate more than long-term situations; due to this, it becomes, principally, planning of a tactical more than strategic nature.

Keywords : Gerencia agropecuaria; planificación estratégica; sistemas ganaderos.