How did land reform change farming in Ecuador’s highlands?

Prior to the 1960s, small-scale farmers in Ecuador’s highlands existed in a dependent relationship with large-scale haciendas, which controlled the most productive flat lands and high pastures.1

Since the 1960s, land reform and broader economic shifts have fundamentally altered this structure. The traditional haciendas were subdivided, leading to the emergence of more profitable, medium-sized commercial farms. These modernized agricultural operations have shifted production toward dairy products, new potato varieties, fruits, flowers, and vegetables.1