CULTIVATION OF Gardenia jasminoides Ellis IN THE CENTRAL REGION OF VERACRUZ, MEXICO

Abstract

The central region of Veracruz, México, presents adequate agro-climatologic conditions for the cultivation of gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides Ellis). In recent years, an increase in the cultivated surface has been observed, although an impact from migration from productive zones has been shown, given that traditionally and historically the municipality of Fortín was considered the primary producer, and currently other municipalities where it is cultivated have been located, and they have become an important source
of economic income. However, there is little information and studies about the cultivation of this species in México; therefore, the cultivation of gardenia was diagnosed and characterized in the central zone of Veracruz, through the technique of structured survey and questionnaire instrument considering socioeconomic factors that condition the gardenia system-product, with open and closed questions grouped into three sections that included: general information, technical and production aspects, and
commercialization. To locate the producers, field research was carried out during the period of April-July 2015, and the number of producers was calculated through the “snowball” non-probabilistic sample. The distribution of gardenia cultivation in seven municipalities was determined, which indicates a growth in the production zone; this represents an opportunity for agricultural diversification of the study region.