Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

En este estudio se llevó a cabo la evaluación de los períodos de sequía histórica que han afectado al Valle de Guadalupe en el Estado de Baja California, México, el cual pertenece a la subcuenca que lleva el mismo nombre. En esta región se llevan a cabo actividades agrícolas de gran importancia como el cultivo de olivo, hortalizas, hierbas de olor y uva de mesa, siendo la más representativa la producción de uva para la elaboración de vino. Por ser una zona semiárida el recurso hídrico superficial es limitado, por lo tanto, toda la demanda de agua la provee el Acuífero Guadalupe. Para cumplir con el objetivo de este estudio se utilizó el cálculo del índice de reconocimiento de sequía (IRS) para llevar a cabo la clasificación anual histórica, la severidad, la duración y la frecuencia de la sequía meteorológica. Se encontraron cuáles han sido los periodos más representativos que han afectado a la región (1999 - 2009) y se concluye que los resultados generados pueden relacionarse con el descenso en el volumen de recarga del acuífero.

The objective of this research was to compare two  ways of agrosystem management for production of  Agave tequilana  Weber var. azul in the Municipality of  Tequila, Jalisco at the basis on agroecological practices  made by producers under the traditional agrosystem  with polycropping (ATP) and under the conventional  agrosystem with monocropping (ACM). A survey was  applied to 25 ATP producers and 25 ACM producers  in 2015. Eight cropping practices were considered: 1)  intercropping (polycropping); 2) addition of organic  matter to soils through pasturing; 3) agave plantation in  contour levels; 4) soil and water conservation practices;  5) crop rotation; 6) land rest; 7) age staggering of agave  plants; and 8) reduction of agrochemicals for weed control.  The results show that producers made more agroecological  practices in ATP than in ACM. Practices of intercropping  and crop rotation have the highest significant differences  between ATP and ACM. An index of agroecological  practices in  Agave tequilana (IPAAT) based on the number  of agroecological practices. Most of ACM (60%) were  classified at medium level (3 to 4 agroecological practices)  and most of ATP (72%) were classified at high or very  high level (5 to 7 practices). The conclusion is that ATP  tend to be more sustainable than ACM because they have  a higher IPAAT.  

En Chiapas, México existe una demanda de más de 8 000 t de frijol de grano rojo, principalmente para cubrir las necesidades de consumo locales de una población aproximada de 1 000 000, incluyendo las de una importante población temporal y/o permanente de inmigrantes centroamericanos. En respuesta a esta demanda, en 2013, el Programa de Frijol del Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP), en el estado de Chiapas, generó la variedad Sangre Maya originada por hibridación a partir de una cruza triple en el Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT) y varios ciclos de selección en diferentes ambientes y localidades. En Chiapas, esta variedad se evaluó en nueve ambientes del centro del estado, durante 2010 a 2012, para determinar su respuesta en rendimiento, tolerancia a enfermedades y a suelos ácidos. Sangre Maya superó en 9 y 40.4% el rendimiento de los testigos Bribri y criollo Coloradito, respectivamente. Asimismo, la nueva variedad presentó la menor incidencia (10%) del virus del mosaico amarillo dorado del frijol, en tanto que Bribri y el criollo Coloradito mostraron incidencias de 30 y 64%, respectivamente. Adicionalmente, la nueva variedad se evaluó en suelo ácido con y sin aplicación de cal y mostró la mejor respuesta en el rendimiento de grano en ambas condiciones de manejo de suelo. En 2014, Sangre Maya fue registrada en el SNICS con el número definitivo FRI-088-060314 para su uso comercial.

Bromeliads are plants that grow in forests and jungles of  the American continent. In Mexico the reported bromeliads  surpass 363 and Oaxaca has 189 of them. The municipality  of Ixtepeji and its agencies including “El Punto” in Oaxaca,  take advantage of epiphytic bromeliads. Since 2008 they have  a UMA, where their members collect in specific areas. In  order to determine the diversity and abundance of bromeliads  as ecological indicators of forest management, a targeted  sampling was carried out during 2015 in four bromeliad  utilization areas: La Cruz de Yovaneli, La Curva de San Miguel,  Reynoso and La Petenera. 300 trees were selected in each  zone of which 87 are oak ( Quercus sp.), 32 pine ( Pinus sp.)  and one  Bursera sp tree. In the forophytes, bromeliad species  were quantified. Most bromeliads diversity and abundance   of species was observed in   Tillandsia (11 sp.) genus, with  specificity location of at least two species per area. The oak was  the forophyte that showed the greatest diversity and abundance  of bromeliads. The Shannon diversity index was average in the  Curva de San Miguel and Reynoso areas (1.5 and 1.3) and low  for La Cruz de Yovaneli and La Petenera areas (0.6 and 0.4).  

Seasonality of Guava ( Psidium guajava L.) production in  the state of Aguascalientes causes price volatility. In the  months of higher production, from October to January,  guava prices are lower than the annual average and lead  to a decrease in the producers’ profit while prices above  the average price occur in the remaining months. With the  objective of analyzing how some supply control actions  could avoid price volatility, the income and profit of guava  producers in the average year 2012-2015 (base situation)  and under two scenarios were calculated: practices of  agronomic management of the culture (calmeo) and  storage. The results indicate that in the average year  2012-2015 the gain of the producers of Aguascalientes  was 180.3 million pesos. A decrease of 8.5% in production  from October to January and a 15% increase from February  to September, thanks to the “calmeo”, would increase  producers’ profits to 214.1 million pesos. The storage of  10% of production in the months of October to January  would increase the producers’ profit to 216.1 million pesos.  The two alternatives increase producer gain; however, the  strong investment required to achieve storage requires  the practice of calmeo to be recommended as the most  favorable measure of supply control to avoid price  volatility.  

The objective of the present study was to analyze the  importance of non-timber forest products (PFNM) to  the inhabitants of the Pensamiento Liberal Mexicano  community, municipality of San Miguel Peras, Oaxaca.  A survey was applied to 56 community members, key  informants were interviewed, visits were made, and  community-based activities were carried out. The results  show that 80% collected PFNM in the forest during the  2015 year. Families have extensive knowledge of PFNM  that grow or reproduce in the forest. PFNM are valued by  families because they are used as food sources, condiments  or medicinal properties, as ornamental or fertilizer for the  production of vegetables. These resources have economic,  cultural and medicinal importance for the families of the  community, and access them through the harvesting or  hunting of wild species at different times of the year. As  a result, community members have undertaken common  governance actions that regulate access to PFNM and the  care of its habitat (the forest).  

The changes introduced by modernization and globalization  in traditional societies have altered sociotechnical  practices and ways of living in community. However, some  rural societies have resisted under different modalities  in the face of modernizing processes and changes in the  environment, considering that they value and conserve  their cultural and organizational expressions that allow  them to survive. Some of the main sociotechnical practices,  such as heritage inheritance related to food safety, found  in field work during 2011-2012 and its benefits are  highlighted. It is concluded that several practices are still  rooted in the culture and identity of the Mixteca Alta of  Oaxaca, such as: cooperative work (gueza-work), food  loaning (gueza-food), barter, traditional agriculture, and  harvesting of wild plants. The widespread permanence  between communities and families of diverse socio- technical practices are conformed as local strategies that  strengthen food security, which need to be respected,  promoted and rescued by programs and institutions of  different government levels.  

Maize has been the staple food of Mesoamerican peoples  for millennia. Mexico hosts 59 races and a large variety  of dishes that include this grain. Historically, women  have been responsible for the preparation of these dishes,  with the tortilla as the basis for many of them. This paper  analyzes the maize management practices conducted  by the women who belong to the Union de Palmeadoras  de Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca. Data were obtained in 2015 and  2016 through a methodological strategy that involved  interviews, workshops, participant observation, field  diaries and a census. The paper describes women’s maize  supply networks; nixtamalization-related knowledge; and  tortilla selling practices. Results show that palmeadoras  activate the market of regional maize varieties, and that  they have specialized knowledge on maize transformation  into food. It is concluded that women’s skills and needs  must be taken into account in public policy design in  order to promote gender equality and food sovereignty  in Mexico.  

This paper is oriented to analyze the investment of external  resources (remittances) for agricultural production; through  programs aimed at promoting rural development. The aim of  the study is to identify transformations, aimed at proposing  productive projects with technological innovations  in producers who adopt them in terms of knowledge,  social, organizational and economic relations to improve  their social welfare. The research was carried out with  agricultural producers in the community of San Pablo Güila,  Municipality of Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca. Methodology  was used with a mixed approach: quantitative, applying a  questionnaire to heads of families of Zapotec origin; and  qualitative studies using social research techniques: direct  and participatory observation. Results evidenced changes in  production, family and group organization, reflecting that  the external support received by migrant relatives living in  the United States of America, its destination is linked to the  investment on the productive project and affects the way  of thinking of the producer, Promotes training and food  that tends to a socioeconomic, educational, productive and  technological improvement. The importance of the role of  remittances in improving the standard of living is perceived.  

Handicrafts are part of the diversity of goods that are  produced in some rural areas, men and women participate  in different ways in the elaboration, commercialization  and benefits obtained from them. This article aims to show  some experiences and challenges faced by women and  men artisans in the state of Tlaxcala. The research was  conducted in 2016. Based on qualitative methodology,  through in-depth interviews, questionnaire and participant  observation, we analyzed the dynamics of productive,  reproductive and commercial work of three artisanal  products. The results show that in spite of the benefits that  artisan producers obtain from handicrafts as an important  source of family income, women tripled their working  hours, so it is important to consider gender relations in  artisanal work.