Study of backyard poultry farming in the Sierra and Valley of Villaflores, Chiapas, Mexico

Resumen

Objective: to analyze the current status and factors that constraint backyard poultry farming in rural communities in the state of Chiapas, Mexico.

Design/ Methodology/ Approach: this study was conducted in four ejidos (a Mexican form of collective landholding) in the Sierra and Valle areas of the municipality of Villaflores in the Frailesca Region, Chiapas (Mexico) through a participatory diagnosis that considered a population of 1600 households. A correlational-causal cross-sectional design was used, along with systematic sampling determined by using the appropriate formula for finite populations.

Results: results showed that while 77% of households still breed birds, production has fallen 41% in the last five years. This activity persists especially in ejidos with greater marginalization, where interest in conserving aviculture is maintained. Despite the negative trend, backyard poultry farming continues to be an activity of interest in the ejidos considered to have a certain degree of marginalization, where a constant commitment to this practice is observed.

Limitations/ Implications of the study: the distrust of the people surveyed in the face of the problems of social insecurity and paternalism that prevail in the study area, negatively influenced to obtain information that would have helped to comprehensively analyze backyard poultry farming.

Findings/ Conclusions: despite the potential as an economic alternative to food insecurity, the decline in participation and production per household threatens the long-term sustainability of backyard poultry farming. Therefore, this study underscores the need to implement effective strategies to preserve this vital practice for rural communities.