POTENTIAL AREAS FOR AGAVE CULTIVATION (Agave Americana L.) IN THE COMITECA PLATEAU, CHIAPAS

Abstract

Comiteco agave (Agave americana L.) is cultivated in the Comiteca Plateau, Chiapas, México, since the middle of the 19th Century as a small-scale economic activity. Currently it is considered an option for productive reconversion in some municipalities of the Plateau; therefore, geographic areas were evaluated to determine zones of higher productive potential in nine municipalities of the state of Chiapas, through determination of agroecologic requirements, the agroclimate characterization of the Comiteca Plateau and planning of the areas with agroclimate potential. A surface of 135,869.8 ha with agroclimate potential was identified, equivalent to 17 % of the total area of the Plateau to broaden the distribution of agave
plantations.