Resumen de Agroecological production experiences in four agricultural regions of Mexico

Benjamín Hernández Vázquez, Rita Schwentesius Rindermann, Tomas Rivas García

• Objective: To analyze experiences with various activities and practices carried out in different agroecological regions of Mexico, involving diverse crops, but excluding the use of chemicals.

  Design/Methodology/Approach: Surveys were conducted in four agricultural regions of Mexico (Texcoco, Estado de México; Vicente Guerrero, Tlaxcala; Michoacan; and Tetela del Volcán, Morelos); they tackled a broad description, background, inputs, and agroecological practices, in order to enable a descriptive analysis.

  Results: Out of all the agroecological units, 60% are ejidos and 40% are small private properties. Producers are between 25 and 68 years old. Plots range from 0.50 to 20 ha. The main crops are corn (Zea mays ssp. mays) and avocado (Persea americana Mill.). Forty-five percent of the crops are rainfed and 36% are irrigated/rainfed. Half of the producers perform crop rotation, while 40% prefers crop association. After 15 years of experience, the number of producers who did not use chemical herbicides increased from 59% to 95%. Crop nutrition is based on such elements as compost (27%) and manure (23%). Fifty percent of the producers manage pests and diseases through agroecological practices. Sixty-eight-point-two percent receive technical advice, while 77.3% are familiar with the decree to phase out the use of glyphosate.

  Study Limitations/Implications: Currently, 13.6% of producers are still transitioning and continue to perform chemical control of pests and diseases, as well as chemical fertilization.

  Findings/Conclusions: It is indeed possible to produce crops and obtain healthy food while caring for biodiversity, making use of environmental-friendly local resources, and achieving soil conservation.