CHARACTERIZATION OF CORN CULTIVATION IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MEZCALAPA, CHIAPAS, MEXICO

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.5157272624036

• Palavras-chave: Zea mays, productivity, systems, technical assistance.

• Keywords: Zea mays, productivity, systems, technical assistance.

• Abstract:

  Maize (Zea mays L.) is the “King of Cereals” as it constitutes the main food source for the population of Mezcalapa; the purpose of this research was to identify the technical and socioeconomic factors that limit the development of maize cultivation and its producers in the municipality of Mezcalapa, Chiapas. The town had 1,596 producers, so the sample consisted of 50, to whom, in 2015, an individual survey of 116 questions related to the aforementioned factors was administered. The absolute frequencies of the individual variables were evaluated, and some were correlated in pairs and/or triads using SPSS software (2016). 
  The results identified various factors limiting the development of the crop and its producers. Their ages range from 26 to 90 years, and they have 8 to 60 years of experience. Twenty-eight percent are illiterate, 20% completed primary school, and 36% did not finish; their main source of income is subsistence corn farming (1–2 ha; 76%), on ejido land (84%) and communal land (2%); all plant native corn manually in rainfed fields; 48% of them sow 40,000 seeds per hectare; 82% control weeds with pre-emergent herbicides and 6% manually; 42% apply one to six bags of urea per hectare (18% one bag; 10% two), and 52% do not apply any; there was damage from corn earworm (84%) and corn rootworm (34%), without timely control (48%); no soil analysis is performed (100%) nor is the soil improved, even though erosion occurred (66%); the Plant Health Subdelegation is not operational (100%); the crop was profitable (34%), without financing (100%); 98% use the grain for self-consumption; support was received in full (68%) and on time (52%); 70% want new varieties; there was no community impact from support (44%); corn production systems were: single-crop (36%) and intercropped with beans (60%); people do not cooperate on common tasks (46%); and 61.4% are willing to receive technical assistance, but only 22% are willing to pay. Finally, it is recommended to design a comprehensive technical advisory system, which will be implemented starting with four variables: literacy, improved varieties, planting dates, as well as seed and corn plant population densities on farmers’ lands, in collaboration with the City Council and technicians from different institutions and disciplines.