Characterization of agricultural practices in the community Mulato Viejo in Oaxaca

Resumen

Objective: To describe the standard of living in the "Mulato Viejo" community; culture and their agricultural practices facing the current governmental development policies.

Design/methodology/approach: The study was conducted during 2019, applying surveys and interviews to key informants with experience in community-elected positions.

Results: The results showed that families practice some traditional farming techniques based on family labor. There was also a lag in the incorporation of women (5.5%), and in the generational renewal of producers. For example, 84% are older than 40 years-old and out of those, only 69% completed elementary education. Thus, they do not know the rationality fundamentals of the agricultural practices they use. This limits the use of machinery to reduce the workload and the production costs, or to innovate.

Study limitations/implications: The main limitations were the sample size and the replicability of the study; a single community was analyzed. It is proposed then to expand the study to other communities with similar characteristics.

Findings/conclusions: Semi-traditional agriculture has preserved local landraces of maize. Yet, it is necessary for the community to incorporate dynamics that may diversify agricultural activities, crops; and allow establishing networks of cooperation and intra-community trade. So that agricultural activities may become an economic option profitable to further generations, who would have a greater capacity to acquire the bases for a sustainable agriculture. With the goal to improve yield but, with the challenge of keeping the traditional agricultural practices intact.