Visible and hidden economic values of the Maya milpa system in Yucatan, Mexico
The Maya milpa is a complex system integrated by the maize, beans, and squash polyculture as well as complementary economic activities, such as growing crops and maintaining livestock in family-owned backyard gardens, forestry, and beekeeping. Although there is evidence that the milpa system has exi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2022-09-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2021.1984107 |
| _version_ | 1827813329430642688 |
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| author | Karla Juliana Rodríguez-Robayo María Elena Méndez-López Isael Fierros-González |
| author_facet | Karla Juliana Rodríguez-Robayo María Elena Méndez-López Isael Fierros-González |
| author_sort | Karla Juliana Rodríguez-Robayo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Maya milpa is a complex system integrated by the maize, beans, and squash polyculture as well as complementary economic activities, such as growing crops and maintaining livestock in family-owned backyard gardens, forestry, and beekeeping. Although there is evidence that the milpa system has existed for over three centuries, its economic importance has been increasingly questioned. This paper addresses questions regarding the economic value of the milpa system as well as the socioeconomic differences between households with and without milpa polyculture. This is done by means of an analysis of 265 surveys gathered from households located in six different communities in the east and southwest of Yucatan, Mexico. The results show that the economic value of the milpa system can vary from US$360.2 (adjusted to 2019 dollars) to US$2234 (adjusted to 2019 dollars) when on-farm consumption, including the feeding of animals and friends and family transfers, is considered. 73.4% of the surveyed households have a cost–benefit ratio of milpa polyculture lower than 1. However, households with and without milpa polyculture system receive similar annual income, showing that milpa polyculture system is as productive as wage labour in this region. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:30:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-de91c4aa6c354a6489368aefdda70e00 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1473-5903 1747-762X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:30:16Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj.art-de91c4aa6c354a6489368aefdda70e002023-09-20T10:18:00ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Agricultural Sustainability1473-59031747-762X2022-09-0120577478910.1080/14735903.2021.19841071984107Visible and hidden economic values of the Maya milpa system in Yucatan, MexicoKarla Juliana Rodríguez-Robayo0María Elena Méndez-López1Isael Fierros-González2Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria, Agrosavia, Centro de Investigación TibaitatáConsejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología – Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de Información GeoespacialTecnológico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ciencias Sociales y GobiernoThe Maya milpa is a complex system integrated by the maize, beans, and squash polyculture as well as complementary economic activities, such as growing crops and maintaining livestock in family-owned backyard gardens, forestry, and beekeeping. Although there is evidence that the milpa system has existed for over three centuries, its economic importance has been increasingly questioned. This paper addresses questions regarding the economic value of the milpa system as well as the socioeconomic differences between households with and without milpa polyculture. This is done by means of an analysis of 265 surveys gathered from households located in six different communities in the east and southwest of Yucatan, Mexico. The results show that the economic value of the milpa system can vary from US$360.2 (adjusted to 2019 dollars) to US$2234 (adjusted to 2019 dollars) when on-farm consumption, including the feeding of animals and friends and family transfers, is considered. 73.4% of the surveyed households have a cost–benefit ratio of milpa polyculture lower than 1. However, households with and without milpa polyculture system receive similar annual income, showing that milpa polyculture system is as productive as wage labour in this region.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2021.1984107economic valuemaya milpa systemrural householdsyucatan peninsula |
| spellingShingle | Karla Juliana Rodríguez-Robayo María Elena Méndez-López Isael Fierros-González Visible and hidden economic values of the Maya milpa system in Yucatan, Mexico International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability economic value maya milpa system rural households yucatan peninsula |
| title | Visible and hidden economic values of the Maya milpa system in Yucatan, Mexico |
| title_full | Visible and hidden economic values of the Maya milpa system in Yucatan, Mexico |
| title_fullStr | Visible and hidden economic values of the Maya milpa system in Yucatan, Mexico |
| title_full_unstemmed | Visible and hidden economic values of the Maya milpa system in Yucatan, Mexico |
| title_short | Visible and hidden economic values of the Maya milpa system in Yucatan, Mexico |
| title_sort | visible and hidden economic values of the maya milpa system in yucatan mexico |
| topic | economic value maya milpa system rural households yucatan peninsula |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2021.1984107 |
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