DIAGNOSIS OF CORN CULTIVATION IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF OCOTEPEC, CHIAPAS, MEXICO

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.9735825151211

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

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

• Abstract:

  The results identified various factors that limit the development of the crop and its producers. Their ages range from 41 to 85, with between 18 and 70 years of experience. Thirty-six percent are illiterate and 16% have not completed primary school; their main income comes from subsistence corn farming (0.5-2 ha; 92%) on ejido (84%) and communal (8%) land; all of them plant native corn by hand in rainfed fields, 64% of them sowing 50,000 seeds per hectare; 68% control weeds with herbicides and 32% manually; 68% apply one to six bags of urea per hectare (36% two bags); there was damage from corn borers (56%) and corn earworms (48%) (without proper control, 48%); no soil analysis is carried out (100%) nor is the soil improved, even though there was erosion (80%); the Plant Health Sub-delegation does not function (100%); the crop was profitable (40%), without financing (100%); 96% use the grain for self-consumption; support was incomplete (24%) and untimely (48%); 68% want new varieties; all work favors production (52%); there was no community impact from support (80%); corn production systems were: single crop (16%) and associated with beans (84%); people do not cooperate in common tasks (48%) and 20% do; 88% are willing to receive technical assistance, but only 12% want to pay. Finally, it is advisable to design a comprehensive technical advisory system, which will be implemented starting with four main variables: literacy, improved varieties, planting dates, and seed and corn plant population densities on farmers' land, with the collaboration of the City Council and technicians from different institutions and disciplines.