Small peasant producers, who make up the bulk of the population in most of Central America, are perhaps even more seriously affected.

By the end of 1987, there were twenty-five development stations providing services to peasant producers in ten provinces, and four more were being set up.

The government marketed only 4,700 tons from peasant producers in that year.

Decreased production was the result of general problems associated with the war, including deteriorating transportation and a lack of market incentives for peasant producers.

Unfortunately, exporters receive 22 times what is paid the peasant producers.

The peasant producer remained subservient to the money lender and the economy remained unchanged.

However, the problems facing peasant producers are not only economic but also political given the control traditionally exercised by the PRI.

There really was little change at one deep level - the life of the peasant producers who made up perhaps 90% of the population.

This meant that the burden of peasant producers increased as the ruling class expanded.

This is a great example of the African initiative taken by peasant producers to adapt to a cash economy.